ACLU Complaint Takes On “Decoy” Prom For Mississippi Lesbian Student New Information Revealed In Co

Source: Out for Justice The National Center for Lesbian Rights Blog

The American Civil Liberties Union filed legal papers today in federal court on behalf of lesbian high school student Constance McMillen regarding a cruel plan to put on a “decoy” prom for her while the rest of her classmates were at a private prom 30 miles away. The amended complaint alleges that the district’s violation of the free speech rights of McMillen, an 18-year-old high school senior who sued her school for canceling the prom rather than let her attend with her girlfriend, have repeatedly caused McMillen to be humiliated and harassed.

“I really hoped that prom night would make all that I’ve been through worth it, then April 2 came and those hopes went out the window,” said McMillen. “All I ever wanted was to go to my school prom with my classmates and my date, like anyone else, and instead I was the target of a mean, nasty joke.”

On March 23, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi issued a preliminary ruling in McMillen’s case that school officials violated McMillen’s First Amendment rights when it canceled the high school prom rather than let McMillen attend with her girlfriend and wear a tuxedo. The court stopped short of ordering Itawamba Agricultural High School (IAHS) to put the school prom back on the calendar relying on assurances that an alternative “private” prom being planned by parents would be open to all students, including McMillen.

-- more at the link

What the school & the parents did was cruel.

dg

I thought the "prom" everyone attended was a private party that the parents chaperoned?

complete with prom gowns, tuxes and limousines.

:eyes:

The gown, tux, or transportation taken to/from a prom is generally funded out of the kids' pockets.
Schools generally just handle the tickets, venue, decorating, and chaperons.
What they decide to wear or drive to a party, or even the nomenclature of that party, is not linked to the school.

As I understand it, the parents funded the party and covered all the items normally provided by the school. The students chose (obviously in collusion) the party rather than the prom which WAS sponsored by the school. The mere fact that the attending students collectively treated this party as a substitute for the prom is outside of the school district's control. The school had a sanctioned prom. Is the school district supposed to STOP a private party from happening? Are they supposed to MAKE the student body attend the school sanctioned prom? Change the school's prom date and hope everyone attends this too?

All the reported facts seem to show this to be what happened. :shrug:

Unless new facts have come to light, I'm just confused as to why the school district is the defendant in this case. Their accountability for the private party seems very limited from what I've read. At most, they may have known about another more popular party planned for the same time as the school's prom. Even then, what could they do?Yes, all the events are cruel and bigoted but I'm not sure there's too much that can be done.

was planned, endorsed and supported by the school district. The express purpose of the alternate prom was to exclude the the "unpopular" kids from the party. It's called collusion, and in denying someone their Civil Rights, i believe the School District should be held culpable. The fact that you think it's ok because it's "technically legal" says more about you than anyone else.

The kids called it their Prom. They wore the Prom gear, did Prom things... chaperones, corsages, limos. Everyone KNOWS it was their prom. The ONLY people who weren't told were the Developmentally disabled kids and the Out lesbian. YOU APPROVE OF THIS?

You say, "What can be done?"

Take them to court! Make sure it doesn't happen again!


Jeez...

:eyes:

No... I didn't. Learn to read. Just to clarify (and I'll type extra slow): I do not approve of this. It is tragic.

I'm merely questioning the ACLU's choice of the school as the party to be served. FWIW, I think the actual known organizers (the parents by most all accounts) should be collectively sued. Proving the school's culpability could be a tall order unless there are details which have yet to be disclosed. If the school "planned, endorsed and supported" this alternate prom (or they were a player in the collusion) then perhaps it is a good choice by the ACLU to go after the school. If the school merely "knew", as a third party, there was an alternate party it might be very difficult to prove their culpability. Everything I've seen in the media said the school planned/financed the school prom and parents planned/financed the party.

Basically it looks like the ACLU is going to try and prove the school was responsible or, at a minimum, was a key player.
That could be tough.

Vociferously. Obviously you think this is a bad call and that the district was within its rights. I trust the ACLU to make the right call. I think they know what they are doing. You? I don't know you. The fact that you question their choice is enough to make me question you. Did i type that slow enough for you?

Oh and one more time...

:eyes:

"murder will out."