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The American Civil Liberties Union on Tuesday asked Senior Judge Glen Davidson to prevent the Itawamba School District from voiding its prom after senior Constance McMillen announced she planned to bring a same-sex date and wear a tuxedo. He’ll hear the legal issues at 10 a.m. Monday in Aberdeen.
Meanwhile, efforts to hold a prom for students remain active.
Parents will host a banquet for Itawamba AHS juniors and seniors to replace the April 2 dance.
The location of the parents-sponsored banquet on the same date has been kept secret because of a desire to protect the students in the midst of a controversy that has gained national attention.
Whether McMillen and her date are invited to the banquet wasn’t clear late Tuesday.
The school district’s decision not to hold a prom was announced one week and one day after the ACLU of Mississippi sent a letter on behalf of McMillen demanding that the district change its prohibition on same-sex prom dates.
The ACLU’s injunction wants the district to allow McMillen to bring a “same-sex date” to the dance and wear a tuxedo.
“Our position is that the prom was canceled to keep Constance from making her First Amendment expression about being able to attend with a same-sex date,” said Kristy Bennett, legal director of the ACLU-MS. “We’re looking at it as censorship.”
The issue has drawn national attention, and a Facebook page created Thursday by the ACLU to spotlight McMillen’s fight has drawn more than 300,000 fans. Outside individuals also have taken an interest in supporting a prom.
The American Humanist Association made a $20,000 grant available to fund a prom for students. AHA Communications and Policy Assistant Michael McCamman said the organization talked with the ACLU, the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Council, the ACLU of Mississippi and the Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition about planning the event.
New Orleans entrepreneur Sean Cummings also offered to throw a prom for all of the school’s juniors and seniors, including McMillen, and their dates and pay for their travel to the city.
Cummings said Tuesday that the school or students haven’t accepted the offer.
“I’m sure this will work out and the school will have a prom,” Cummings said. “We just wanted them to know they’ll have a backup.”
Contact Chris Kieffer at (662) 678-1590 or chris.kieffer@djournal.com.
IAHS was accused of discrimination, so they fixed it. They cancelled the event where the accused discrimination was to be happening in order to NOT discriminate against ANYONE.
And I'll all but guarantee you this...all those schools that were listed in the other article as to still be hosting a prom, I'll bet this is the LAST one they host so they don't have to go thru all this HOOPLA!
What a joke! Going to court to demand a PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL FACILITY to host a SOCIAL EVENT! That really helps our educational problems!
And...cutting PROM makes perfect finical sense too among all the budget cuts. Another just issued a few articles above this one.
Is it against the law for 18-year-olds to go to proms with 17-year-olds? I would think a lot of people would be breaking the law if that were the case.
Does the school spend any money on the prom? I thought students had to cover the costs themselves.
The ACLU frequently represents students who want to pray in school, Bible clubs that want to meet in school, etc. The ACLU opposes the government (including public schools) telling individuals that they have to pray or that they can't pray. The ACLU favors individuals making decisions about their own religious practices.
I'll bet that other school districts that still sponsor these events are re-thinking now.
"Whites only" was the rule.
"Women can't go to medical school" was the rule.
"You must be a white man AND own property to vote" was the rule.
By your logic, these were rules and therefore unchallengable.
Not the kind of world I want to live in.
I know everyone says that Jesus loves everyone, BUT I will leave you on this.... If you believe in HEAVEN then you better believe in HELL. Its there for a reason and its filling up fast. If God decided He would let everyone break the rules... well he would'nt need hell anymore would He.