New York Times on Prom Discrimination

The New York Times ran an editorial today addressing the issue of discrimination at high school proms, following the incident in which a Mississippi high school first barred a lesbian couple from attending the prom and then cancelled it to avoid conflict.  Constance McMillen, the student involved, has taken a very visible  and very admirable stand and has gone on TV with Ellen DeGeneres and Wanda Sykes, among others.  From the editorial:

A Mississippi school board was grossly discriminatory and mean-spirited when it told Constance McMillen that she could not attend her high school prom with her girlfriend. A ruling by a federal judge that Ms. McMillen’s constitutional rights had been violated is a welcome sign that gay people are continuing to make progress toward equality. It should also be a warning to school districts nationwide about the cost of discrimination.

The other prom story that I have yet to cover is the story of Derrick Martin who, after a three month struggle, was allowed by his school to bring a same sex date, but was later kicked out of his parent’s home.  Video is here.

This may not seem like a big deal to some or a battle worth fighting, but even beyond the principle of the matter, it sets a context for understanding gay couples from a younger age.  Visibility and familiarity are the best ways we can increase acceptance and understanding.