Mississippi Lesbian Banned From Prom But Invited to White House

[ZombieHorde]

Will Also Meet With Congressional Members About Pending Legislation and Lead NYC Pride Parade

WASHINGTON, June 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- American Civil Liberties Union client Constance McMillen will go to the White House on Tuesday to join President Obama at a ceremony recognizing the contributions of LGBT Americans. She will also serve as a Grand Marshal in the New York City Pride parade on June 27.

McMillen made national headlines this spring after her Mississippi high school took the extraordinary step of cancelling the prom rather than allow her to attend with her girlfriend and wear a tuxedo. After the ACLU filed a lawsuit against the Itawamba Agricultural High School charging that the school violated McMillen's First Amendment rights, school officials made assurances in court that McMillen would be allowed to attend a "parent sponsored" prom with her girlfriend. On prom night, however, McMillen was sent to a "decoy" prom attended by only a few other students while the rest of her classmates were at a private prom 30 miles away. According to legal papers filed in her case, parents at the school developed the plan to send McMillen to the "decoy" prom at a meeting that included school officials.

"The honor of being invited to join President Obama at the White House ceremony and the amazing support I've received has helped me come to terms with what happened over the prom," said McMillen. "Unfortunately, I've heard from a lot of other kids who are having problems at their schools, too. I am grateful that President Obama recognizes the difficulties that LGBT youth still have, and I really hope the attention my case has generated will help encourage Congress to pass a federal law barring LGBT discrimination in schools so that no one else has to go through what I did."

Before she attends the White House celebration, McMillen will meet with Senator Al Franken (D-MN), who introduced the Student Non-Discrimination Act in the Senate this May. The bill bars discrimination based on "actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity" in public elementary and secondary schools. A similar bill was introduced in the House of Representatives in January by Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO). McMillen will meet Congressman Polis during the White House celebration.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mississippi-lesbian-banned-from-prom-but-invited-to-white-house-96818254.html

[ck4829]

1. Very awesome. How's that crow taste, you homophobes at that school?

[TheWraith]

2. This sounds like a wonderful example of "Point, laugh" going the other direction.

Thanks to some knuckledraggers who couldn't stomach her being able to be normal with them, she's now going to get a whole series of once in a lifetime opportunities.

[Poll_Blind]

3. How awesome is that?

It's freaking awesome, that's how awesome it is!

PB

[Xipe Totec]

4. Way awesome!

Classy move.

[xchrom]

5. I don't think much of Obama or his tenure so far

But I'll applaud him for this.

[katandmoon]

7. Ditto.

[tbyg52]

10. Nice, very nice.

:applause:

[HockeyMom]

6. Cheers to her

I am in town and will be going to the parade with my lesbian daughter and her SO. I will have to look for Ms. McMillen. My daughter has been following her story and will very happy to hear this.

[Booster]

8. Way to go, Mr. Obama. Way better than the prom.

[racaulk]

9. Very cool!

:thumbsup:

K&R

[Divine Discontent]

11. if Ronnie RayGun can be president (Hollywood), then Al Franken most certainly can be president!

Franken is literally the most rockin' awesomest super senator known to mankind.

He would make a great president.

[Divine Discontent]

12. good job Administration! :)