No Prom, But A Trial. An update on the School that cancelled its Prom rather than let a lesbian student bring her girlfriend.

So the News:

U.S. District Judge Glen H. Davidson ruled that Constance McMillen's rights were violated by the school, and there will be a trial, but that he will not force the school to have the prom (which had been scheduled for April 2nd.)

What???

So the judge acknowledges it was wrong, but instead of correcting the problem (making the school have the prom including the lesbian student), he's going to let the injustice stand?

And when will the trial be? It's not known.

So depending on the outcome of the case, it might help kids next year who want to be out and bring their GLBTQ dates to their school proms (their schools might hesitate to discriminate if Constance's school is found guilty) but that doesn't really help Constance.

And, as I suspected, some parents got together and are having a "private" prom for Constance's High School - one where there is no legal recourse if they discriminate on who can attend.

And will Constance attend the private prom? She's not sure. On Tuesday she said:

"I'm going to school tomorrow (Wednesday) and will get a feel of how everybody feels about me. That will help me make my decision about whether I'm going to the private prom," McMillen said. "I want to go because all my junior and senior class will be there, but I don't want to be somewhere I'm not welcomed."

Kristy Bennett, ACLU Mississippi legal director, called the decision a "victory."

And maybe from an adult lawyer perspective it is a victory of sorts. Or a step-on-the-road-to-victory-eventually.

But for the teens involved, for Candace and her girlfriend, and for every other GLBTQ Teen going to or thinking about going to their prom this year? I have to say that this ruling stinks.

What do you think?

Share your thoughts in comments.

Ladies! Taking Your Girlfriend To The Prom? Check out these Couples!

The awesome women over at Autostraddle, in response to the insanity of the High School in Mississippi canceling their prom rather than let an 18 year old senior go with her girlfriend, have cooked up this delicious post - all these photos of teen girls who have gone to the prom or dance with their girlfriends! Here's just a taste:





It's fantastic, and so empowering to see!

Go check out the photos! (And hey, add your own if you've got one.)

Now if I could only go back in a time machine to MY prom...

Oh, and a cool follow-up to the story: Ellen DeGeneres presented Constance McMillen (the girl who asked to take her girlfriend to the prom which was then canceled) with a $30,000.- college scholarship (from tonic.com)

Check the moment out (it's at the end of Ellen's interview with her) - Constance's face when she hears the news is priceless!




Namaste,
Lee

ps- thanks to jlr for sharing the autostraddle link with me, so I could share it with you!

GSA Monday Topic: Fairfax High in Los Angeles elects a GAY TEEN as PROM QUEEN!

Sergio Garcia, Fairfax High Prom Queen

Okay, we had it happen at a college, but this is different.

This is high school.

And Sergio Garcia isn't a guy in drag - he's just a guy, who is gay. (Wearing a leather jacket and a Tiara.)

And he got elected Prom Queen!

Here's the article from the LA Times...

I know that as a culture we're really rigid in our view of gender roles, and I think it's awesome that a gay student could get that much support from classmates, but I do have some questions...

Should Sergio have gone for Prom King rather than Prom Queen, if he really identifies as a guy?

Was it fair to the girls who might have wanted to be Prom Queen?

Is this yet another reason for Carrie Prejean to be against same-gender marriage?

And... What song should be Sergio's "first dance" with the Prom King on Prom night?

What do you think?

GSA Monday Topic: Thoughts for Next Year, Part 1. Tentpoles, Anchor Stores, and Events of the Season!

Thousands of GLBTQ people and our straight allies
wore RED at Last year's Gay Days in Disneyland

And I was one of them!

As this year winds down, it's a great opportunity to think through what goals you have for the GSA next year. Over the next few weeks, I'll be tossing out some ideas for YOUR group to discuss. (And if you don't belong to a Gay-Straight Alliance club beyond this virtual one, I'll be sharing some ideas for you, too!)

Something you might want to consider for next year is the idea of building the semesters (or trimesters, or whatever your school calendar is) around one or two major "EVENTS."

Kind of like how malls have "anchor stores" - usually big department stores that ostensibly make it worth walking to the end and then turning around. It's something to build around.

Even movie studios have the idea of a "tentpole" movie during the summer. Something big that everyone (they hope) looks forward to. An "event" that you plan things around.

So similarly, what about structuring next school year's GSA activities around one or two events?

You can create a GSA winter dance and/or a GSA Prom - even teaming up with some other local schools' GSA clubs or the local PFLAG chapter to pull it off.

You can organize a GSA field trip to something like Gay Days at a local amusement park...

You can bring in a speaker to talk to the GSA and the whole school...

You can organize a movie series...

You can shoot your own video...

You can organize a book club to read and discuss some great GLBTQ Teen books - and you can choose which books from the amazing lists here!

There are so many options - talk with your group and brainstorm what YOUR GSA can get excited about. Having a event to build towards for each session of school will help give some focus and contribute some important momentum for each meeting of your club.

And if you find yourself with only this virtual club membership, think about how you can build your year around an event that would be exciting and affirming for yourself. Some goal/experience you can work towards and achieve. You, too, can find a GSA Prom in your state and plan to attend. You can go to a PFLAG meeting. You can travel to a local (or national) amusement park's official or unofficial Gay Days. You can bring in a speaker to where you go to school or work, or you could go see a speaker. You can rent your own movie series. You can shoot your own video. You can create your own book club to read and discuss some great GLBTQ Teen books!

Funny, those lists of possibilities are very similar.

I guess my point is that giving some structure to what you hope to get out of being part of your GSA (real-world and/or virtual) is something I hope you consider.

Have fun dreaming, setting some goals, and planning for next year!

Namaste,
Lee