School Prom Cancelled After Lesbian Date Request

A Mississippi school district decided Wednesday not to host a high school prom after a lesbian student requested she be able to bring her girlfriend and wear a tuxedo, reports the AP.

American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi had given the district until Wednesday to change the policy and allow Constance McMillen, 18, to escort her girlfriend, who is also a student, to the dance on April 2.

The district's policy requires that senior prom dates be of the opposite sex so the school board announced it wouldn't host the event at Itawamba County Agricultural High School in Fulton, "due to the distractions to the educational process caused by recent events."

Ironically, the statement didn't mention McMillen or the ACLU. The AP asked if McMillen's demand led to the cancellation and school board attorney Michele Floyd referenced the statement: "It is our hope that private citizens will organize an event for the juniors and seniors. However, at this time, we feel that it is in the best interest of the Itawamba County School District, after taking into consideration the education, safety and well being of our students."

Kristy Bennett, legal director for the ACLU of Mississippi, said the district was trying to avoid the issue.

"But that doesn't take away their legal obligations to treat all the students fairly," Bennett said. "On Constance's behalf, this is unfair to her. All she's trying to do is assert her rights."

McKenzie Chaney, a smart 16-year-old, 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."

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