Alright.. so I seen this title and so I thought that I would see what it was about. I came to find that this is something that I disagree with 110% because people are people, and you should not be put down because of who you are. Do you agree with me? What do you think about this?


JACKSON, Miss. – An 18-year-old Mississippi lesbian
student whose school district canceled her senior prom rather than allow her to escort
her girlfriend and wear a tuxedo said she got some unfriendly looks from
classmates when she reluctantly returned to campus Thursday.
Constance McMillen said she didn't want to go back
the day after the Itawamba
County school board's decision, but her father told her she
needed to face her classmates, teachers and school officials.
"My daddy told me that I needed to show them that I'm
still proud of who I am," McMillen told The Associated Press in a
telephone interview. "The fact that this will help people later on,
that's what's helping me to go on."
The district announced Wednesday it wouldn't host the
April 2 prom. The decision came after the American Civil Liberties Union told
officials a policy banning same-sex prom dates violated students'
rights. The ACLU
said the district not letting McMillen wear a tuxedo violated her free
expression rights.
McMillen said she felt some hostility toward her on
the Itawamba County Agricultural
High School campus.
"Somebody said, 'Thanks for ruining my senior year.'"
McMillen said.
The school board issued a statement announcing it
wouldn't host the event in Fulton, "due to the distractions to the
educational process caused by recent events."
The statement didn't mention McMillen or the ACLU.
When asked by the AP if McMillen's demand led to the cancellation,
school board attorney Michele Floyd said she could only reference the
statement.
"I guess they would rather do that than what's right,
what's constitutionally correct," McMillen said.
Same-sex prom dates and cross-dressing are new issues
for many high schools around the country, said Daryl Presgraves, a
spokesman for GLSEN: Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, a
Washington-based advocacy group.
"A lot of schools actually react rather than do the
research and find out what the rights of these students are," said
Presgraves, who was preparing to facilitate a discussion about anti-gay
bullying at a National
Association of Secondary School Principals meeting.
The school district had said it hoped a privately
sponsored prom could be held. McMillen said if that happens, she's sure
she'll be excluded.
"It's a small town in Mississippi, and it's run by an older
generation with money. Most of them are more conservative and they don't
agree with it," she said.
Fulton Mayor Paul Walker said he supports the school
district's decision and knew of no private efforts to host the prom.
"I think the community as a whole is probably in
support of the school district," Walker said of the town of about 4,000.
Itawamba County is a rural area of about 23,000
people in north Mississippi near the Alabama state line. It's near
Pontotoc County, Miss., where more than a decade ago school officials
were sued in federal court over their practice of student-led intercom
prayer and Bible classes.
A couple of students had different reactions to the
decision.
Anna Watson, a 17-year-old junior at the high school,
was looking forward to the prom, especially since the town's only
hotspot is the bowling alley, she said.
"I am a little bummed out about it. I guess it's a decision that had to
be made. Either way someone was going to get disappointed — either
Constance was or we were," Watson said. "I don't agree with
homosexuality, but I can't change what another person thinks or does."
McKenzie Chaney, 16, said she wasn't planning to attend the prom, but
"it's kind of ridiculous that they can't let her wear the tuxedo and it
all be over with."
A Feb. 5 memo to students laid out the criteria for bringing a date to
the prom, and one requirement was that the person must be of the
opposite sex.
Presgraves said his organization hears about school districts that
prohibit same-sex prom dates and gay-straight alliance clubs at schools.
He said those kind of policies are detrimental to gay students.
"It sends a message that these students shouldn't be treated the same,"
Presgraves said.http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_lesbian_prom_date

Ha, I just read that! I think that is the biggest piece of CRAP! I think that they should be able to freely express themselves. And we all do have rights, and that is the freedom of expression. That's just stupid that they cancelled the prom because of this. I mean, who is it really effecting?

So what if shes Lesbian. That's her personal preference, and by doing this, it's just discrimination! It shows that every one isn't equal! It's just wrong is so many ways and unfair to everyone!

I think that they should just let her bring her date and dress in a Tuxedo, I mean, that's formal, right? I really don't think that it matters that much as to who she brings or what she wears. It's their prom, and it's not fair to everyone else to cancel it. I think that school board is just stupid and unfair to everyone! Thanks for sharing this though MZ!

You know it saddens me that I have to see these topics pop up in the news but it also makes me happy, it means that America is starting to finally open up their minds and realize that not everyone is the same, that not everyone can go "well I'm just going to get me a date of the opposite sex and go to prom". Times are changing and America needs to wake up and heed the call that people are different, people do things that might make you go, "WTF are they thinking" but all in all it's their choice and whether you agree or not is you personal opinion and should have no bearing on what they can and cannot do, I'm glad that this is making the news, I'm glad that this girl is facing people at school and saying, "Look don't be mad at me, be mad at the school board for discriminating against me."

First, I have to say that banning gay-straight alliance clubs is really stupid! Now that that is out of the way...

Admittedly, I must confess that I am kind of getting tired of the 'gay rights movement' that is stretching across the country. Now personally I have no issues with anyone whatsoever who chooses to have a relationship with someone of the same gender, but I am tired of the 'gimme gimme' attitude without any concessions to those that disagree. What I mean by this is: We have an entire month dedicated to Black History (February) yet we do not have one dedicated to any other race and heaven forbid we even mention having a white history month lest we get damned to hell for being racist. - We have gay pride day and a plethora of gay parades to match with some of the flamers wearing things that are more than inappropriate for youngins to be seeing. If we decided to have a sanctity of opposite gender family parades or straight pride day, again it would be seen as sexist.

With that said, homosexuality is absolutely nothing new and really there aren't any more homosexuals today than there were when this country founded (outside the fact the population has grown since then). The only difference is that it isn't being hidden for fear of being burned at the stake like an evil witch anymore. Yes, they still face their prejudices, but they are not the only ones. White men are even being prejudiced now due to all these anti-Christian, anti-white, anti-heterosexuality movements. (Refer back to the firefighters who were not promoted due to there being a lack of black firefighters.)

What the school done was wrong, no matter how you cut it. However, on the other hand, if you live in a community where you feel comfortable in their beliefs, then you shouldn't have to change your feelings or beliefs for anyone. If the girl is uncomfortable within her own community then there are a great many communities where she will be accepted for who she is. Her rights to be who she is also infringes upon the rights for others to be who they are. No one should be forced to accept anyone for any reason although tolerance and non-violence toward others who are different from ourselves should also be taught and adhered to. Hating someone all because they are different (the girl) or disagree (the school) is wrong on both sides (discrimination goes both ways). No one person is any better than anyone else nor are they given more constitutional rights than anyone else no matter their race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation. We live in a democracy and with that, the majority rules, which is also in the constitution.

Bottom line... if she feels comfortable enough to show up at a prom with all her peers wearing what she wants and dating whom she wants, then what is the school's problem? It's not like she is there to convert others to be like her nor will everyone else stay home because she's going. She will also have to follow the same rules which apply to the heterosexuals - don't snog on the dance floor, no dirty dancing, etc. Going ahead with the prom takes away no one's rights to believe how they want to believe and be who they are all at the same time.

I have got to say that this whole issue is absolutely absurd. I mean come on...You're bound to say that it's a freaken dance. What does it matter who the hell anyone goes with. But that's my opinion. The fact is that no one has a right to discriminate anyone for sexual preferances, race, or even gender.
People who define themselves as "Lesbians" "Gays" and "Bisexuals" are completely allowed to take their significant other to a dance. If us as straight(well in my case...not so straight)human beings don't chose the people we love because our heart speaks to us when we are in love. If someone who may be confused and actually finds out that they are into the same sex...What gives us the right to choose for them who they can be with.
That's why we took arranged marriage out of the picture. You weren't marrying someone for love but for status.But someone who is actually in love. It does not matter who they are in love with. They deserve equal oportunity.