Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Bigots? In Mississippi?

Ok. Remember when I wrote here last November about the crazy high school principal in Alabama who tried canceling an entire prom rather than let two lesbian students attend together?

It's spreading.

Dateline: Jackson, "We'd Like To Be Known As Even Crazier Than Alabama" Mississippi:

A northern Mississippi school district decided Wednesday not to host a high school prom after a lesbian student demanded she be able to attend with her girlfriend and wear a tuxedo.


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

Instead, the school board met and issued a statement announcing 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."


Oh, I disagree. This is very educational.

The statement didn't mention McMillen or the ACLU.


Of course it didn't mention McMillen. Naming someone makes it that much harder not to treat them as a person.

Finally, notice something about the AP piece:
Anna Watson, a 17-year-old junior at the high school, was looking forward to the prom, especially since the town's only hotspot is the bowling alley, she said.

"I am a little bummed out about it. I guess it's a decision that had to be made. Either way someone was going to get disappointed — either Constance was or we were," Watson said. "I don't agree with homosexuality, but I can't change what another person thinks or does."

Other students are on McMillen's side.

McKenzie Chaney, 16, 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."


The way I read it, both those quotes are on McMillen's side.
Watson said. "I don't agree with homosexuality, but I can't change what another person thinks or does."


Emphasis mine.

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