Comments on: Vote for a Prom Date….

By: High School Yearbook Censored? | usDemoCrazy

High School Yearbook Censored? | usDemoCrazy — Mon, 03 May 2010 02:48:18 +0000

[...] story comes right on the heals of Constance McMillen, the lesbian student who was not allowed to bring her girlfriend to prom? The courts ruled that the Mississippi school’s actions were [...]

By: What’zup today? | usDemoCrazy

What’zup today? | usDemoCrazy — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 07:01:56 +0000

[...] Remember Constance McMillen, who wasn’t allowed to attend her prom with her girlfriend? Well, she did end up going… but to a prom that might have been staged! [...]

By: Brandon F. (PSH)

Brandon F. (PSH) — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 14:13:24 +0000

I think that cancelling the prom was the wrong thing to do. I say this because its not fair just for the girl and her girlfriend/date but for the whole school. Prom is supposed to be a exciting and fun night for EVERYBODY, wheather your color, race, or sexually. I mean bringing the girls girlfriend wasn’t really gonna harm anyone or anything at the dance. Overall, I think the school took the punishment way to far.

By: ChickPea

ChickPea — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 16:31:45 +0000

Thank all of you for your responses.

Food for thought. Several of you mentioned how this was an outrage and an infringement on this student’s rights. But the fact of the matter is that, due to several Supreme Court rulings, students have severely restricted first and fourth amendment rights.

You can be searched at any time if a teacher has “reasonable suspicion”, and schools punish you for what you say, or how you express yourselves.

There are arguments for and against, and we would like to hear them, or just your opinion.

By: Stephanie S. (PSH)

Stephanie S. (PSH) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 21:16:51 +0000

In a time where gay marriage and gay rights are a pressing issue within the United States government today, it is understandable how a prom would be cancelled in a conservative rural Mississippi town. However, in no way does that make it any more justifiable and McMillen should have been able to bring whoever she wanted to the prom. Although it would seem more accepting in an urban environment, it is understandable of Mississippi’s strict rules, but it’s 2010 and by now, even conservative towns should realize that they are extremely restricting and limiting and yes, too old-fashioned. It’s also horrible how the school has exploited this issue and now the girl has to miss days of school due to harassment. The big picture of it all is that it’s not so much about the other students having to return their dresses and reschedule their night, but it’s about the fact that we are facing serious issues in a year and time where these issues should not even be debated. People can get refunds and other plans can be arranged, but McMillan may face consequences from others for the rest of her life—or at least while she remains in Mississippi. The fact of the matter is that McMillen should have been able to bring another girl to prom as her date, which is a mere and harmless thing that definitely could have been dealt with in a more appropriate fashion by both the community and school.

By: Susa

Susa — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 21:15:42 +0000

Thanks for the responses, PSH students! I agree, and think that it was a serious miscalculation on the side of the school administrators. Hopefully, students voices, like each of yours, will make the faculty at the school change their mind and put prom back on!

Have any of you guys experienced anything similar to this at your own school? If you can think of any examples, how did you deal with it? And how would you recommend Constance handle this problem?

By: Olivia S. (PSH)

Olivia S. (PSH) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 19:51:46 +0000

I think that cancelling the prom was too extreme. It’s not fair to cancel the prom becuase of one person. This goes against what our country is about: having equal rights for everyone. She should have the right to bring anyone she chooses no matter what gender they are. Its also not fair because the administration is punishing everyone.

By: Amanda H. (PSH)

Amanda H. (PSH) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 19:51:19 +0000

I think that cancelling the prom was a mistake beause it punishes all of the students. McMillen has the right to bring whomever she wants to a dance. The cancellation also puts the spotlight on her and allows kids to get upset at her rather than upset at the administration.

By: FatenPSH

FatenPSH — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 19:50:22 +0000

I think bringing a girl as your prom date doesnt work out well because they are the same sex. At the prom they will be doing things they should’nt be doing. So the school officials are doing the right thing by keeping students safe.So in this case the prom should be canceled.

By: RonattaS(PSH)

RonattaS(PSH) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 19:49:26 +0000

I think she should be able to bring her girlfriend to her prom as her date because thats what she wants. I think no ones safety will be harmed if she brings another girl as her date, only homophobic people will have a stupid reason on why she should not bring her date to her prom. If someone is gay let them be, you cant change them because you think you have that right to or tell them who they should be. Everyone is different for a reason.