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==Incident==
==Incident==
In March 2010, the [[Itawamba County School District]] board made international news after it decided to cancel the [[prom]] for Itawamba Agricultural High School because 18-year old [[lesbian]] student Constance McMillen requested permission to take a same-sex date (aged 15) to the event, and to wear a tuxedo.<ref name="usatodayprom">{{cite news | title = Miss. prom canceled after lesbian's date request | first = Chris | last = Joyner | url = http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-03-10-noprom_N.htm | newspaper = [[USA Today]] | publisher = [[Gannett Company]] | location = [[McLean, Virginia]], USA | issn = 0734-7456 | date = 2010-03-11 | accessdate = 2010-05-31 | archiveurl = http://www.webcitation.org/5okMbDs7o | archivedate = 2010-04-04 }}</ref><ref name="AP-yahoonews">{{cite news | url= http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100311/ap_on_re_us/us_lesbian_prom_date | title= Lesbian teen back at Miss. school after prom flap | author= Sheila Byrd ([[Associated Press]]) | publisher=''[[Yahoo! News]]'' | date= March 11, 2010 | accessdate=March 11, 2010}}</ref><ref name="natpost">{{cite news | url= http://network.nationalpost.com/NP/blogs/posted/archive/2010/03/11/mississipi-school-board-cancels-prom-over-lesbian-and-her-date.aspx | title= Mississippi school board cancels prom over lesbian and her date | author= Meghan Housley | publisher=''[[National Post]]'' | date= March 11, 2010 | accessdate=March 11, 2010}}</ref><ref name="kgointerview">{{cite news | url= http://members.kgoradio.com/kgo_archives/player.php?day=4&hour=11 | title= Radio interview with Constance McMillan | author= | publisher=''[[KGO (AM)]]'' | date= March 11, 2010 | accessdate=March 11, 2010}}</ref><ref name="dailymailuk">{{cite news | url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1257354/Constance-McMillen-School-bans-prom-lesbian-student-asks-girlfriend--wear-tuxedo.html | title = School cancels prom after lesbian pupil asks to take her girlfriend... and wear a dinner suit | author = David Gardner | publisher = Mail Online | date=March 13, 2010 | accessdate= March 13, 2010}}</ref> The school board encouraged the creation of a private prom.<ref name="usatodayprom"/> The [[American Civil Liberties Union]] filed suit in federal court against the school district seeking reinstatement of the prom, stating that it was "shameful and cowardly of the school district to have canceled the prom and to try to blame [the student]".<ref name="usatodayprom2">{{cite news | url= http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-03-11-no-prom-mississippi_N.htm | title= ACLU files suit against Miss. school for canceling prom | author= Chris Joyner | publisher=''[[USA Today]]'' | date= March 11, 2010 | accessdate=March 11, 2010}} Archived at [http://www.webcitation.org/5okMFh6sc WebCite]</ref> A court hearing was scheduled to take place Monday, March 22, 2010.
In March 2010, the [[Itawamba County School District]] board made international news, after it decided to cancel the [[prom]] for Itawamba Agricultural High School because 18-year old [[lesbian]] student Constance McMillen had requested permission to take a same-sex date (aged 15) to the event, and to wear a tuxedo.<ref name="usatodayprom">{{cite news | title = Miss. prom canceled after lesbian's date request | first = Chris | last = Joyner | url = http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-03-10-noprom_N.htm | newspaper = [[USA Today]] | publisher = [[Gannett Company]] | location = [[McLean, Virginia]], USA | issn = 0734-7456 | date = 2010-03-11 | accessdate = 2010-05-31 | archiveurl = http://www.webcitation.org/5okMbDs7o | archivedate = 2010-04-04 }}</ref><ref name="AP-yahoonews">{{cite news | url= http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100311/ap_on_re_us/us_lesbian_prom_date | title= Lesbian teen back at Miss. school after prom flap | author= Sheila Byrd ([[Associated Press]]) | publisher=''[[Yahoo! News]]'' | date= March 11, 2010 | accessdate=March 11, 2010}}</ref><ref name="natpost">{{cite news | url= http://network.nationalpost.com/NP/blogs/posted/archive/2010/03/11/mississipi-school-board-cancels-prom-over-lesbian-and-her-date.aspx | title= Mississippi school board cancels prom over lesbian and her date | author= Meghan Housley | publisher=''[[National Post]]'' | date= March 11, 2010 | accessdate=March 11, 2010}}</ref><ref name="kgointerview">{{cite news | url= http://members.kgoradio.com/kgo_archives/player.php?day=4&hour=11 | title= Radio interview with Constance McMillan | author= | publisher=''[[KGO (AM)]]'' | date= March 11, 2010 | accessdate=March 11, 2010}}</ref><ref name="dailymailuk">{{cite news | url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1257354/Constance-McMillen-School-bans-prom-lesbian-student-asks-girlfriend--wear-tuxedo.html | title = School cancels prom after lesbian pupil asks to take her girlfriend... and wear a dinner suit | author = David Gardner | publisher = Mail Online | date=March 13, 2010 | accessdate= March 13, 2010}}</ref> The school board encouraged the creation of a private prom.<ref name="usatodayprom"/> On March 10, 2010, the [[American Civil Liberties Union]] filed a free speech lawsuit on McMillens's behalf, seeking an [[injunction]] which would reinstate the prom. The ACLU stated that it was "shameful and cowardly of the school district to have canceled the prom and to try to blame [the student]".<ref name="usatodayprom2">{{cite news | url= http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-03-11-no-prom-mississippi_N.htm | title= ACLU files suit against Miss. school for canceling prom | author= Chris Joyner | publisher=''[[USA Today]]'' | date= March 11, 2010 | accessdate=March 11, 2010}} Archived at [http://www.webcitation.org/5okMFh6sc WebCite]</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aclu.org/files/assets/McMillen_complaint_final.pdf |title=Constance McMillen v. Itawamba County School District |author=Constance McMillen |date=10 March 2010 |work=[[ACLU]] |publisher= |accessdate=28 April 2010}}</ref> On April 21, 2010, an amended complaint was filed, seeking [[compensatory damages]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aclu.org/files/assets/McMillen_Amended_Complaint_04.21.10.pdf|title=Constance McMillen v. Itawamba County School District |author=Constance McMillen |date=21 April 2010 |work=[[ACLU]] |publisher= |accessdate=28 April 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aclu.org/lgbt-rights/fulton-ms-prom-discrimination|title=Fulton, MS Prom Discrimination |author=Constance McMillen |date= |work=[[ACLU]] |publisher= |accessdate=28 April 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wlbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=12353293|title=
Lesbian teenager files lawsuit against school district |author= |date=22 April 2010 |work=[[WLBT]] |publisher=[[Raycom Media]] |accessdate=28 April 2010}}</ref> A court hearing was scheduled to take place on Monday, March 22, 2010.


On a March 12, 2010 appearance on the national [[The Early Show|CBS Early Show]], McMillen claimed that she had first asked the school principal about bringing a same-sex date to the prom in December 2009, and that he said it was not allowed, due to a concern that pairs of same sex friends who were not in a relationship would buy less expensive couples tickets instead of individual tickets.<ref name="cbsearly1">{{cite news | url= http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/03/12/earlyshow/main6292120.shtml | title= Lesbian Teen Speaks Out on Cancelled Prom | author= | publisher=''[[The Early Show]]'' | date= March 12, 2010 | accessdate=March 12, 2010}}</ref> McMillen said she told him "you can't pretend like there's not gay people at our school, and if you tell people they can't bring a same-sex date, that is discrimination to them." Although the school board did not explicitly say the prom was cancelled due to McMillen's request, the cancellation came only one week after the ACLU sent a letter to the board pleading her case.<ref name="cbsearly1"/>
On a March 12, 2010 appearance on the national [[The Early Show|CBS Early Show]], McMillen claimed that she had first asked the school principal about bringing a same-sex date to the prom in December 2009, and that he said it was not allowed, due to a concern that pairs of same sex friends who were not in a relationship would buy less expensive couples tickets instead of individual tickets.<ref name="cbsearly1">{{cite news | url= http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/03/12/earlyshow/main6292120.shtml | title= Lesbian Teen Speaks Out on Cancelled Prom | author= | publisher=''[[The Early Show]]'' | date= March 12, 2010 | accessdate=March 12, 2010}}</ref> McMillen said she told him "you can't pretend like there's not gay people at our school, and if you tell people they can't bring a same-sex date, that is discrimination to them." Although the school board did not explicitly say the prom was cancelled due to McMillen's request, the cancellation came only one week after the ACLU sent a letter to the board pleading her case.<ref name="cbsearly1"/>

Revision as of 07:59, 3 June 2010

18-year-old Caucasoid female with a left-nostril piercing and the letters "NO H8" painted on her left cheek is wearing a white shirt and black coat and standing in front of a banner advertising the "GLAAD awards" and "Absolut Vodka".
Constance McMillen at the 2010 GLAAD Media Awards

The 2010 Itawamba County School District Prom controversy began when lesbian student Constance McMillen was refused permission to bring her girlfriend as a date, and to wear a tuxedo, to the Itawamba County Agricultural High School prom. As a result of a lawsuit brought against the school, the school canceled the prom and encouraged parents to organize a private prom. The parents organized a private prom, but canceled it. A second private prom was organized and represented to be the official prom. Meanwhile, parents organized a secret prom to which McMillen was not invited and which most of the student body attended.

Incident

In March 2010, the Itawamba County School District board made international news, after it decided to cancel the prom for Itawamba Agricultural High School because 18-year old lesbian student Constance McMillen had requested permission to take a same-sex date (aged 15) to the event, and to wear a tuxedo.[1][2][3][4][5] The school board encouraged the creation of a private prom.[1] On March 10, 2010, the American Civil Liberties Union filed a free speech lawsuit on McMillens's behalf, seeking an injunction which would reinstate the prom. The ACLU stated that it was "shameful and cowardly of the school district to have canceled the prom and to try to blame [the student]".[6][7] On April 21, 2010, an amended complaint was filed, seeking compensatory damages.[8][9][10] A court hearing was scheduled to take place on Monday, March 22, 2010.

On a March 12, 2010 appearance on the national CBS Early Show, McMillen claimed that she had first asked the school principal about bringing a same-sex date to the prom in December 2009, and that he said it was not allowed, due to a concern that pairs of same sex friends who were not in a relationship would buy less expensive couples tickets instead of individual tickets.[11] McMillen said she told him "you can't pretend like there's not gay people at our school, and if you tell people they can't bring a same-sex date, that is discrimination to them." Although the school board did not explicitly say the prom was cancelled due to McMillen's request, the cancellation came only one week after the ACLU sent a letter to the board pleading her case.[11]

Subsequent to international press coverage of the prom's cancellation, many groups offered to sponsor a non-discriminatory prom and enough money was reportedly raised to host one.[12] However, it was reported that adults posted signs in protest on the high school, including ones stating "What happened to the Bible Belt?", and "Gomorrah".[12]

Court ruling

On March 23, 2010, U.S. District Court Judge Glen H. Davidson issued a ruling in favor of both McMillen and the Itawamba County School District.[13] Judge Davidson ruled that Itawamba County School District did violate McMillen's First Amendment rights by not allowing her to attend the prom with her girlfriend, not allowing her to wear a tuxedo and by cancelling the prom.[13] Judge Davidson wrote, "The court finds this expression and communication of her viewpoint is the type of speech that falls squarely within the purview of the First Amendment."[13] However, in favor of the Itawamba County School District, Judge Davidson ruled that he would not force the school district to hold the prom since a private prom had already been planned.[13] At the preliminary hearing, school board members testified that all junior and senior students would be allowed to attend the private prom but did not make it clear as to whether or not same-sex couples would be allowed to attend.[13] McMillen received no official information on, or an invitation to, the private prom.[14]

During the hearing, the school board testified that they cancelled the prom because the "media attention generated distracted the school from its educational mission, and that the board canceled the prom in an attempt to restore order".[13] Judge Davidson said he was not swayed by that testimony because the high school's own principal had testified to the opposite, saying that "e-mail and phone calls generated by the controversy had no impact on classroom instruction".[13]

Fake prom

On March 30, 2010, The Clarion-Ledger newspaper reported that the original private prom scheduled to be held at the Tupelo Furniture Market had been cancelled after McMillen attempted to purchase a ticket.[15] Lori Byrd, who served on the parent organizing committee of the private prom, told the newspaper that there were many parents involved who did not want to be sued for not allowing same-sex dates at the private prom, so they cancelled it.[15] However, the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reported the following day that a new official private prom had been organized, to be held at the Fulton Country Club, and that McMillen would be allowed to attend with her girlfriend.[16]

McMillen and her date attended the prom, but found only five other students in attendance including two students "with learning difficulties".[17] A second secret private prom had been arranged by parents, to be held in the community of Evergreen, and the rest of the students chose to attend that prom instead of the official private prom.[17][18][19] McMillen said she was aware of the "Evergreen" event but when she asked another student if she was invited, the student told her, "the prom is at the country club." McMillen said she took that answer as a "no" in regards to her question on whether or not she was invited and details about the secret private prom were kept from her.[18]

Students who attended the "Evergreen" prom posted photos of the event on their Facebook pages, but many of the photos were deleted after they became public. Some students said the event was not a prom but was instead a birthday party, while others said it was just a private party. However, while claiming the event was not a prom publicly, students uploaded photos from the event to their Facebook pages labeled as "Prom 2010" and posted status updates which referred to the gathering as "prom".[20][21][22][23]

Media and celebrity attention

The controversy brought about world wide media attention as well as attention from celebrities.[24]

Ellen DeGeneres invited McMillen to be a guest on her television show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show. On the show, DeGeneres presented McMillen with a $30,000 scholarship, paid for and donated by Tonic.com.[25]

McMillen was also invited to be a guest by Wanda Sykes on her television show, The Wanda Sykes Show. On the show, Sykes noted that she was receiving the Stephen F. Kolzack Award at the 2010 GLAAD Media Awards and that award recipients, such as herself, could decide who they wanted to present their award. Sykes said that she would like McMillen to come to Los Angeles, at Sykes's expense, and be the person who presented the award to her.[26]

Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton invited, and she accepted, McMillen and guests of her choosing to attend at his expense a birthday bash being held for him. When he posted about it on his web site, he wrote that "she will be treated like a homecoming queen for the day."[27]

Along with activists Judy Shepard and Lt. Daniel Choi, McMillen has been chosen as a Grand Marshall of the 2010 New York City Gay Pride March.[28]

Constance McMillen v. Itawamba County School District

On March 10, 2010, McMillen filed a free speech lawsuit seeking an injunction which would reinstate the prom.[29] On April 21, 2010, McMillen filed an amended complaint seeking compensatory damages.[30][31][32]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Joyner, Chris (2010-03-11). "Miss. prom canceled after lesbian's date request". USA Today. McLean, Virginia, USA: Gannett Company. ISSN 0734-7456. Archived from the original on 2010-04-04. Retrieved 2010-05-31.
  2. ^ Sheila Byrd (Associated Press) (March 11, 2010). "Lesbian teen back at Miss. school after prom flap". Yahoo! News. Retrieved March 11, 2010. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  3. ^ Meghan Housley (March 11, 2010). "Mississippi school board cancels prom over lesbian and her date". National Post. Retrieved March 11, 2010. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  4. ^ "Radio interview with Constance McMillan". KGO (AM). March 11, 2010. Retrieved March 11, 2010. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ David Gardner (March 13, 2010). "School cancels prom after lesbian pupil asks to take her girlfriend... and wear a dinner suit". Mail Online. Retrieved March 13, 2010.
  6. ^ Chris Joyner (March 11, 2010). "ACLU files suit against Miss. school for canceling prom". USA Today. Retrieved March 11, 2010. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help) Archived at WebCite
  7. ^ Constance McMillen (10 March 2010). "Constance McMillen v. Itawamba County School District" (PDF). ACLU. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
  8. ^ Constance McMillen (21 April 2010). "Constance McMillen v. Itawamba County School District" (PDF). ACLU. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
  9. ^ Constance McMillen. "Fulton, MS Prom Discrimination". ACLU. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
  10. ^ "Lesbian teenager files lawsuit against school district". WLBT. Raycom Media. 22 April 2010. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
  11. ^ a b "Lesbian Teen Speaks Out on Cancelled Prom". The Early Show. March 12, 2010. Retrieved March 12, 2010. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  12. ^ a b Chris Joyner (March 15, 2010). "Itawamba prom hearing could be held by Monday". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved March 17, 2010. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help) Archived at WebCite
  13. ^ a b c d e f g Chris Joyner (March 24, 2010). "Both sides claim win in lesbian's prom lawsuit". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved March 24, 2010. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help) Archived at WebCite
  14. ^ CNN Wire Staff (March 23, 2010). "Judge: School violated lesbian's rights, but prom cancellation valid". CNN. Retrieved March 24, 2010. {{cite news}}: |author= has generic name (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help) Archived at WebCite
  15. ^ a b Chris Joyner (March 30, 2010). "Parent-sponsored prom in Itawamba canceled". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved April 1, 2010. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help) Archived at WebCite
  16. ^ Chris Kieffer and Alisha Wilson (March 31, 2010). "Itawamba prom off, then on again". Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal. Retrieved April 1, 2010. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help) Archived at WebCite
  17. ^ a b Unknown (April 5, 2010). "McMillen: I Was Sent to Fake Prom". The Advocate. Retrieved April 5, 2010. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help) Archived at WebCite
  18. ^ a b Chris Kieffer (April 5, 2010). "UPDATE: McMillen goes to Itawamba County prom that is sparsely attended". Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal. Retrieved April 5, 2010. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help) Archived at WebCite
  19. ^ Jake Simpson (April 6, 2010). "Lesbian Couple Sent to Fake Prom". The Atlantic Wire. Retrieved April 11, 2010. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  20. ^ Kim LaCapria. "Followup: Constance McMillen's classmates confirm prom ruse, the fact that they're bigoted". The Inquisitr.
  21. ^ QMI Agency (April 7, 2010). "Students send lesbian to decoy prom". Toronto Sun. Retrieved April 12, 2010.
  22. ^ Editorial board (April 7, 2010). "Mississippi outrage: 'Fake proms' for lesbians". The Week Magazine. Retrieved April 12, 2010.
  23. ^ Carlin DeGuerin Miller (April 7, 2010). "Constance McMillen faces Facebook Backlash as her Classmates Ridicule her Online". CBS News. Retrieved April 12, 2010.
  24. ^ Advocate.com Editors (March 23, 2010). "School Wrong, But Prom Won't Go On". The Advocate. Retrieved April 7, 2010. {{cite news}}: |author= has generic name (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help) Archived at WebCite
  25. ^ Associated Press (March 19, 2010). "Ellen presents $30K to lesbian teen in prom flap". USA Today. Retrieved April 7, 2010. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help) Archived at WebCite
  26. ^ Advocate.com Editors (March 14, 2010). "Sykes Interviews Lesbian Barred From Prom". The Advocate. Retrieved April 7, 2010. {{cite news}}: |author= has generic name (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help) Archived at WebCite
  27. ^ Advocate.com Editors (March 16, 2010). "Constance to Party With Perez". The Advocate. Retrieved April 7, 2010. {{cite news}}: |author= has generic name (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help) Archived at WebCite
  28. ^ QMI Agency (2010-04-15). "Gay teen banned from prom to lead NYC pride parade". torontosun.com. Retrieved 2010-04-22.
  29. ^ Constance McMillen (10 March 2010). "Constance McMillen v. Itawamba County School District" (PDF). ACLU. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
  30. ^ Constance McMillen (21 April 2010). "Constance McMillen v. Itawamba County School District" (PDF). ACLU. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
  31. ^ Constance McMillen. "Fulton, MS Prom Discrimination". ACLU. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
  32. ^ "Lesbian teenager files lawsuit against school district". WLBT. Raycom Media. 22 April 2010. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
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