Welcome to the south

Word of Mouth -

Just when you think society is heading in the right direction, you read something that makes you believe we're no further ahead than what we were 50 years ago.

Constance McMillen, an 18-year-old lesbian in Jackson, Mississippi, wanted to take her girlfriend to her senior prom. However, the Mississippi school district cancelled the prom dance after Ms. McMillen approached them asking permission to take her girlfriend.

The matter is now going to the courts.

Unfortunately, such matters have been going on in the U.S.A., as well as Canada, for many, many years.

I thought we were supposed to embrace each other's differences - not hide it, or be ashamed of it. Although some of her classmates may have come to her aid, others have decided to be shortsighted and have sarcastically thanked Ms. McMillen for "ruining" their prom.

Shameful, simply shameful. What's amazing is that Ms. McMillen, an 18-year-old, has taken on this fight for the sake of other gay students around the world who have to deal with such boundaries that shouldn't be there in the first place. While other Grade 12 students are talking about the grandest night for all high school students, Ms. McMillen is doing interviews to publicly tell her story in hopes the world hears it.

In a Yahoo! story I read, Ms. McMillen said she didn't want to go to school the morning after the prom dance was cancelled because she didn't want to face her classmates. Her father, however, said she had to go because she, "...needed to show them that I'm still proud of who I am."

So she did, and despite the fact some of her classmates blame her for "ruining" their prom, Ms. McMillen fights on.

Not only is this 18-year-old taking on this monumental challenge in court, but she's also battling for her peer's respect, and she's also fighting the anti-gay stigma that present in many places. It seems that some people believe that just because someone's way of life is different from their own, they don't deserve the same rights.

Thankfully, not everybody thinks this way. Sean Cummings, a New Orleans hotel owner, is picking up for Ms. McMillen. Apparently, Mr. Cummings was upset enough at the school board's decision that he offered to bus the students to New Orleans, free of charge, and host a free prom at one of his properties.

"New Orleans, we're a joyful culture and a creative culture here and, if the school doesn't change its mind, we'd be delighted to offer them a prom in New Orleans," he told The Clarion-Ledger. "Concluding your high school experience should be a joyful one. One shouldn't conclude that experience with all their friends on a negative note."

Such a complicated matter shouldn't really be too complicated. As Mr. Cummings said, the prom is about the students, and it's their night. It isn't about someone's sexual orientation. Saying that a gay person can't take his/her partner to an event like the prom is like saying someone can only take someone of a certain race or religion. This is pure discrimination and is aimed at a youth of a certain community.

Those involved with making this decision should take a good, long look in the mirror. These adults, who are members of a school board, who you would think are intelligent people, are narrow-minded and shortsighted.

I wouldn't want my children being a part of a school system that discriminates against other students. It's the wrong lesson to be teaching our youth, and it's the wrong message to send to the world.

Welcome to the south - we'll welcome you only if you believe what we believe.

info@ganderbeacon.ca