School cancels dance after lesbian date request

A prom in a northern Mississippi school has been cancelled after a lesbian student asked if she could bring a girlfriend.

Constance McMillen approached school officials to make the request because she knew that same sex couples had been banned in the past.  The officials told McMillen she and her girlfriend “wouldn’t be allowed to arrive together, that she would not be allowed to wear a tuxedo, and that she and her girlfriend might be asked to leave if their presence made any other students “uncomfortable.””

The American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi had given the officials until yesterday to make a statement, perhaps change their stance.

Instead it was announced that the prom was now cancelled.

The reason given:  “due to the distractions to the educational process caused by recent events.”

When asked by The Associated Press if McMillen’s demand led to the cancellation, school board attorney Michele Floyd said she could only reference the statement.

“It is our hope that private citizens will organize an event for the juniors and seniors,” district officials said in the statement. “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.”

The ACLU said a school policy banning same-sex prom dates violated McMillen’s constitutional rights.

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.”

Bennett said she wouldn’t allow McMillen to comment on Wednesday, saying “she’s still trying to process” the district’s actions. Calls to McMillen’s cell phone went unanswered.

ABC