So Today I Found Out That Same-Sex Prom Dates...

...aren't allowed at my school's prom.

Granted, this IS the (public) school with a Bible Club and a strong Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter, but isn't allowed to have a GSA due to complaints from parents a few years back, but the news still came as a shock to me - shouldn't it be a non-issue by now?

(Blergh. That was just the capper to a pretty dreadful day. Long story short, I got the rug pulled out from underneath me regarding a project that I've been working on for ages. Our drama class is doing a variety/sketch show that I've written about 60% of the material for, and the seniors have decided that it's "unfair" that a friend - also a senior - and I were planning on emceeing said show. Apparantly this has to do with the fact that I'm a sophomore, despite the fact that I'm graduating this year and this is just as much my last performance at this school as theirs. So now I'm not performing anything in a show I've worked my ass off on. But that's not really the issue at this point.)

I'm torn on whether to try petitioning the administration (it's not a district-wide ban, I know that for certain) or just to try to let it go - I'm not sure I want to be remembered as the girl who fought racism in junior high and homophobia in high school. Should I start a petition or not? I figured this would be as good a place to ask for advice as any. Help me out here, BWW. =)

And there's no petitioning that needs to happen. Call the media. Call the radio stations.

YES you do want to be known as the girl who fought it. Why be a complacent and submissive bystander?

That definitely should not be allowed. The fact that you just said same-sex, and not gay, makes it an entirely different fight. I mean, obviously it would affect them, but what if you just wanted to have your best friend there, who does not go to your school, or you go in on a bid together to save money? I find nothing wrong with either situation at all. Same with gay couples. Everyone should have the same rights. If they can't fix this, I say boycott going.

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Updated On: 4/29/08 at 10:54 PM

I'm with namaste on this one.

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You have a point that clothing discrimination can be unfair, but the focus of this conversation isn't that the students aren't allowed to wear certain articles of clothing. The focus of the conversation is that two students who 'have the same private parts' aren't allowed to go together.

What even constitutes as a "couple" anyway. I think you should fight this regardless, but who's to say that two girls or two guys who go to the prom together aren't going as friends? Or what about people who can't find anybody so they bring a cousin as a date? Will they ban that as well because its "incest"?

Again, I think you should fight this because ithis sort of discrimination is not only wrong but doesn't sound legal, I just don't understand how they can really enforce it.

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The way things are isn't neccesarily the way things have to be. Far too many social/political activists as well as others have proven that over the years.

I was also asking a real question btw. How would a school draw the distinction between friends going to the prom together and two persons going as dates?

It doesn't matter but it seems like a bit of a shady line to distinguish. Besides that, how will they enforce this rule? What will they do? Throw out same sex persons who are dancing within a certain number of feet/inches of eachother? That was a joke, btw, but I do wonder.

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Updated On: 4/29/08 at 11:52 PM

Don't schools in the South still have a prom for black students and a prom for white students?

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nitsua, exactly. it's a school-sponsored event. And who pays for the school? The public. The school is not allowed to uninvite people because of who they invite to the prom. They don't make the ultimate call, the public does. That's why there's a school board publicly elected.

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"Aren't any of you aware of the way public school systems work?

It's a school sponsored event. They have the right to say who comes and goes.

It's not right, but it's the way it goes."

No. The school is obligated to follow any anti-discriminatory laws BECAUSE it is a public school.

It's so good to see other people encouraging her to do the right thing.

Your principal isn't that Daphne Beasley creature, is it?

I'd settle for one state.