Constance McMillen fighting for canceled prom

The ACLU has been offering help to high school senior Constance McMillen, who is now fighting to have her high school reinstate their canceled prom.

Constance McMillen just wanted to go to Prom, Itawamba High School, where Constance McMillen is a senior informed her earlier this year that she would not be allowed to both bring her sophomore girlfriend to the dance and to wear a tuxedo, as she had planned.

Constance McMillen then contacted the American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi, who sent a letter to the district asking that they change their policy. The school then circulated a memo to students, including Constance McMillen, specifically prohibiting same-sex couples at the school dance.

Constance McMillen’s reaction to the cancellation. In her interview with USA Today, Constance McMillen reacted to the announcement: “Oh, my God. That’s really messed up because the message they are sending is that if they have to let gay people go to prom that they are not going to have one,” she said. “A bunch of kids at school are really going to hate me for this.” Constance also pointed out that “If they set it up privately they probably aren’t going to allow gay people to go and there is nothing that you can do about it.”

How have situations like Constance McMillen’s been decided in the past?

High schools across the nation have a patchwork of policies about gay students and school activities. As USA Today reported, some schools do allow same-sex dates while others continue to ban homosexual couples. There are also some schools, that have bans but do not enforce them. Schools are allowed very wide latitude by most courts in determining the eligibility and limitations on school events, clubs, and activities.

From: Personalmoneystore.com