Gay teen shut out from high school’s prom to lead NYC pride parade

[babsbunny]

http://rawstory.com/rs/2010/0626/gay-teen-shut-high-schools-prom-lead-nyc-pride-parade/

By The Associated Press
Saturday, June 26th, 2010 -- 11:55 am

Constance McMillen said she considered backing down when school officials canceled prom after she asked if she could bring her girlfriend. But then the 18-year-old thought about the point she was trying to make.

"It's wrong for schools to do that, it's wrong to discriminate," McMillen told The Associated Press.

McMillen's stand made her feel like an outcast in her Mississippi hometown, but the 18-year-old hasn't looked back. She has traveled the country making high-profile media appearances and visited the White House as an invited guest. On Sunday, she will be one of three grand marshals for New York City's annual Pride March.

[I Have A Dream]

1. I'm so glad that such wonderful things have come out of that...

disgusting decision to exclude her and other people who are not heterosexual. Go Constance!

[babsbunny]

2. And she was on Ellen!

I heart Ellen!!!!!!!!! :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya:

[Initech]

4. I was horrified by this story and it's good that it has a happy ending.

[fascisthunter]

3. I am Proud of her

and want others to know I am straight but not narrow. There are plenty of us who are straight that do support GLBT rights. If you are not an equal, then neither am I.

Look upon her strength, more noble and real then any celebrity could ever hope to achieve. Her story is real, and because of her action, the grip of bigotry has just been loosened.

[tblue37]

5. What was even worse was that the school officials

compounded the insult, the unfairness, and the violation of her rights by putting on a fake prom for her and a small handful of other kids that were considered "undesirable," while holding in secret the real prom that the rest of the students attended.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

6. There is a bit more to the story than that

The key issue is if the school officials knew or should have known about the "private party" in a gated community which the rest of the students went to on the same night and if they had a duty to share that information or make it public