The Reaction: Paging Rachael Ray

By J. Thomas Duffy

In the WTF Department;

Judge: No school prom but lesbian's right violated

JACKSON, Miss. – The prom's still off at a Mississippi high school that canceled it instead of letting a lesbian student bring her girlfriend, but a federal judge ruled Tuesday that the district's actions did violate the teen's constitutional rights.

U.S. District Judge Glen H. Davidson refused the American Civil Liberties Union's demand to force the Itawamba County school district to put on the April 2 prom. However, he said canceling it did violate 18-year-old Constance McMillen's rights and that he would hold a trial on the issue.

That would come too late for the prom to be salvaged at Itawamba Agricultural High School. Still, Kristy Bennett, ACLU Mississippi legal director, called the decision a victory.

[snip]

Davidson said a private prom parents are planning will serve the same purpose as a school-sponsored one. He wrote that "requiring defendants to step back into a sponsorship role at this late date would only confuse and confound the community on the issue."

So, the Judge acknowledges the young Constance McMillen's rights were violated, yet he endorses a "private prom" sponsored by the "parents".

Hmmm ...

Seems like this "private prom" was in works, before the court ruling, which, pretty much broadcasts (to the point the Judge made reference to it, so he was aware of it) that McMillen, in tux, with her date, is not going to be welcomed.

Yeah, I guess that "will serve the same purpose."

Pam Spaulding weighs in;

In the greater scheme of things, this acknowledgment that Constance's rights were violated -- is a big signal to adults in schools administering policy based on bigotry that this no longer flies.

In places where homophobia runs deep, however, adhering to the law will not make the hate go away -- it simply turns a prom into a private, discriminatory affair. McMillen is not invited to the privately organized prom. Cultural norms will change only over time as more Mississippi teens come out knowing Constance led the way with her bravery.

I realize it's getting late, the clock is ticking, but maybe they should reach out to Rachael Ray.

She knows how to throw a prom at the last minute;