# US school cancels prom to avoid lesbian student bringing a date **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 11, 2010, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-school-cancels-prom-to-avoid-lesbian-student-bringing-a-date/532108 "2010-03-11T15:28:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2010, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-school-cancels-prom-to-avoid-lesbian-student-bringing-a-date/532108/61 "2010-03-12T02:13:31Z")
I’m thinking that they will cancel this year and a prom next year with the same discriminatory rules. They are betting that with the two known lesbians graduating, there won’t be any around to call the ACLU to complain next year. ---
**Author:** ![elelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2010, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-school-cancels-prom-to-avoid-lesbian-student-bringing-a-date/532108/62 "2010-03-12T02:33:55Z")
> [@thirdname](#): > > I think the way to combat this is to insinuate that if the guys in Mississippi don’t want to see hot lesbians dancing together, then they must be gay. Any red-blooded American man should want to see some lesbians at the prom. Well, she wanted to wear a tux, which gave her a big ol’ Price Is Right “Thanks For Playing, But…” loser play out song to the gawking male thrill-seekers. ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2010, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-school-cancels-prom-to-avoid-lesbian-student-bringing-a-date/532108/63 "2010-03-12T02:36:24Z")
I can’t help hoping that this student shows up in my freshman classes next year, although I wouldn’t blame her if she just wanted to get the hell out of the state. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2010, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-school-cancels-prom-to-avoid-lesbian-student-bringing-a-date/532108/64 "2010-03-12T09:37:23Z")
> [@thirdname](#): > > I think the way to combat this is to insinuate that if the guys in Mississippi don’t want to see hot lesbians dancing together, then they must be gay. Any red-blooded American man should want to see some lesbians at the prom. That’s what I was thinking. And what kind of weirdo has a problem with women wearing tuxedos? ---
**Author:** ![Incubus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c68b51/32.png) [@Incubus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Incubus)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2010, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-school-cancels-prom-to-avoid-lesbian-student-bringing-a-date/532108/65 "2010-03-12T09:45:51Z")
Just wanted to chime in to mention I really admire this young woman’s resolve for going to school and being able to face potential criticism/ostracising from her classmates for prom getting canceled. I say that because our dance (not prom, but one of the last dances of the year) in my senior year was canceled because someone started a rumor that I was going to plant a bomb to blow everyone up during the dance. I was a senior when Columbine happened, and many people in my school thought I was some Klebold the 2nd because I was some trenchcoat-wearing social misfit. I myself allowed the administration to ‘suspend’ me because I personally did not have the courage to face people who thought I was guilty for something that was a total rumor. I’m not proud of that fact, but I also have immense respect for this woman for being upfront about being gay and facing her peers. Also props to the classmate who said something to the effect of “while I don’t personally feel ok with people being gay I don’t care if they go to prom”. Not everybody is going to feel comfortable, but they didn’t have to cancel the prom over it :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Onimous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea5d25/32.png) [@Ann\_Onimous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Onimous)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2010, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-school-cancels-prom-to-avoid-lesbian-student-bringing-a-date/532108/66 "2010-03-12T15:47:32Z")
> [@elelle](#): > > One wondering thing for me: according to Juliana’s above link, the law could uphold this discrimination because of MSPI’s anti-sodomy laws. Does being a homosexual female violate sodomy laws? Isn’t that about male-oriented penetration by definition? It’s all outdated, of course, but, if you’re following the Biblical interpretation as your absolute standard, it should be well-defined. > > Callin’ Sampiro here, as an expert of such thangs in the South. I thought I had read somewhere (but can’t find the link now, sadly) that the Supreme Court passed a law that made the states’ anti-sodomy laws unconstitutional. If anyone can find that link or article, I would appreciate it. **Sampiro** or **Oakminster** would know for sure, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Onimous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea5d25/32.png) [@Ann\_Onimous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Onimous)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2010, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-school-cancels-prom-to-avoid-lesbian-student-bringing-a-date/532108/67 "2010-03-12T15:50:55Z")
> [@thirdname](#): > > I think the way to combat this is to insinuate that if the guys in Mississippi don’t want to see hot lesbians dancing together, then they must be gay. Any red-blooded American man should want to see some lesbians at the prom. This is beautiful. You owe me… well, I was drinking water, so thanks for the morning chuckle. > [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I’m thinking that they will cancel this year and a prom next year with the same discriminatory rules. They are betting that with the two known lesbians graduating, there won’t be any around to call the ACLU to complain next year. The young lady she wants to bring is a sophomore. Since it’s a junior/senior prom, they shouldn’t have prom for the next two years. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2010, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-school-cancels-prom-to-avoid-lesbian-student-bringing-a-date/532108/68 "2010-03-12T16:05:54Z")
> [@Juliana](#): > > I thought I had read somewhere (but can’t find the link now, sadly) that the Supreme Court passed a law that made the states’ anti-sodomy laws unconstitutional. If anyone can find that link or article, I would appreciate it. It’s mentioned in your link. The Supreme Court doesn’t pass laws, but in Lawrence v. Texas the court ruled anti-sodomy laws are an unconstitutional violation of privacy rights. The laws are still on the books but they’re not enforceable. I am sure Crampton (and I love that name) is aware of this. It’s not possible that he works in this field and doesn’t know the Supreme Court voided these laws earlier this decade. [Here’s the law from Mississippi:](http://www.mscode.com/free/statutes/97/029/0059.htm) > [@](#): > > SEC. 97-29-59. Unnatural intercourse. > > Every person who shall be convicted of the detestable and abominable crime against nature committed with mankind or with a beast, shall be punished by imprisonment in the penitentiary for a term of not more than ten years. I will not comment on the irony of punishing sodomy by sentencing a man to prison. I see claims this law has also been used against women, but I don’t know if that is true or not, and it shouldn’t be an issue regardless. Incidentally that interesting phrase “the detestable and abominable crime against nature” is also found in Oklahoma’s laws against sodomy. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2010, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-school-cancels-prom-to-avoid-lesbian-student-bringing-a-date/532108/69 "2010-03-12T16:19:18Z")
If you recall in the 50s there were school districts that abandoned public schools rather than integrate, the classic example being [Prince Edward County,](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Edward_County,_Virginia#Massive_Resistance:_the_only_school_district_in_the_U.S._to_close_for_5_years) in Virginia ---
**Author:** ![Translucent\_Daydream](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/translucent_daydream/32/16170_2.png) [@Translucent\_Daydream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Translucent_Daydream)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2010, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-school-cancels-prom-to-avoid-lesbian-student-bringing-a-date/532108/70 "2010-03-12T16:24:32Z")
> [@Sinaptics](#): > > “Now who’s the flamer?!” You won the thread! ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2010, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-school-cancels-prom-to-avoid-lesbian-student-bringing-a-date/532108/71 "2010-03-12T16:31:15Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > Try to be more niggardly with your charges of racism in the future. No, actually, I could not resist. Hey, watch your language!.. you could’ve used a contraction for “could not”. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Onimous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea5d25/32.png) [@Ann\_Onimous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Onimous)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2010, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-school-cancels-prom-to-avoid-lesbian-student-bringing-a-date/532108/72 "2010-03-12T16:52:56Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > It’s mentioned in your link. The Supreme Court doesn’t pass laws, but in Lawrence v. Texas the court ruled anti-sodomy laws are an unconstitutional violation of privacy rights. The laws are still on the books but they’re not enforceable. I am sure Crampton (and I love that name) is aware of this. It’s not possible that he works in this field and doesn’t know the Supreme Court voided these laws earlier this decade. It’s Friday morning. I’m always a little slow on Friday mornings. Thanks, **Marley**! ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2010, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-school-cancels-prom-to-avoid-lesbian-student-bringing-a-date/532108/73 "2010-03-12T17:13:24Z")
I would consider it very appropriate and ironically amusing if a couple of graduate in that class, who have turned 18, were to run for the school board and turn the issue back to who actually caused the cancellation of the prom and why. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2010, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-school-cancels-prom-to-avoid-lesbian-student-bringing-a-date/532108/74 "2010-03-12T18:40:49Z")
> [@Laudenum](#): > > Just out of curiosity, is the point of this to punish the girl, and make the other students blame/ostracise her, or do the school simply want to dodge the issue altogether, by not holding the event and therefore not open themselves up to legal action? Regardless of their intentions, I’m sure it will end up as the latter. Case in fucking point: > [@Maiira](#): > > I saw this story first on Yahoo, and the number of “wull, she stuck out her neck, so it’s HER FAULT they’re canceling prom, she RUINED EVERYTHING, GAWD” comments made me want to punch my monitor. ---
**Author:** ![Stealth\_Potato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Stealth\_Potato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stealth_Potato)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2010, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-school-cancels-prom-to-avoid-lesbian-student-bringing-a-date/532108/75 "2010-03-12T19:22:00Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > It reminds of the discotheque that Disneyland had in the 70’s. They had a man/woman couple only rule too. It wasn’t to keep out gays. I don’t think homosexuals even occurred to them. They just didn’t want the place to become a pick-up joint. Then a same sex couple was denied entry and made a big stink so Disneyland just said, “fuck it” and closed the whole thing down. I’m not sure I follow. How does barring same-sex couples do anything _but_ keep out gays? I don’t see how that specific prohibition even relates to worries about the place becoming a “pick-up joint.” ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2010, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-school-cancels-prom-to-avoid-lesbian-student-bringing-a-date/532108/76 "2010-03-12T19:31:14Z")
> [@Stealth\_Potato](#): > > I’m not sure I follow. How does barring same-sex couples do anything _but_ keep out gays? I don’t see how that specific prohibition even relates to worries about the place becoming a “pick-up joint.” He’s saying they had a rule that you couldn’t go _alone_. ---
**Author:** ![Stealth\_Potato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Stealth\_Potato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stealth_Potato)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2010, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-school-cancels-prom-to-avoid-lesbian-student-bringing-a-date/532108/77 "2010-03-12T19:33:58Z")
Ahhhh. That makes more sense. Still a silly rule, though. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2010, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-school-cancels-prom-to-avoid-lesbian-student-bringing-a-date/532108/78 "2010-03-12T21:40:55Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > It’s mentioned in your link. The Supreme Court doesn’t pass laws, but in Lawrence v. Texas the court ruled anti-sodomy laws are an unconstitutional violation of privacy rights. The laws are still on the books but they’re not enforceable. I am sure Crampton (and I love that name) is aware of this. It’s not possible that he works in this field and doesn’t know the Supreme Court voided these laws earlier this decade. > > [Here’s the law from Mississippi:](http://www.mscode.com/free/statutes/97/029/0059.htm) > > I will not comment on the irony of punishing sodomy by sentencing a man to prison. > > I see claims this law has also been used against women, but I don’t know if that is true or not, and it shouldn’t be an issue regardless. Incidentally that interesting phrase “the detestable and abominable crime against nature” is also found in Oklahoma’s laws against sodomy. The Lawrence v. Texas decision applies to private acts. States have been continued to try and convict people on sodomy laws for acts that occur in public places. So, Lawrence v. Texas protects you from being charged for acts in your own home but would not protect you from being charged for acts committed at say a rest stop or a school. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2010, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-school-cancels-prom-to-avoid-lesbian-student-bringing-a-date/532108/79 "2010-03-13T02:42:35Z")
The school expected a private organization such as a church to hold an alternate prom; knowing that such an organization could bar gays and yet would be shielded from a lawsuit unlike a public insititution. What they didn’t expect was the offer from the [American Humanist Association](http://www.americanhumanist.org/news/details/2010-03-humanists-prepare-to-hold-lgbt-inclusive-prom-in-miss) to be the one to step up to the plate, with an offer to host a gay-friendly event… Religious conservatives are probably correct when they suppose their’s to be the majority view, but they also seem believe any dissenting views to be in such a minority as to be nonexistant. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2010, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-school-cancels-prom-to-avoid-lesbian-student-bringing-a-date/532108/80 "2010-03-13T07:23:41Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > What they didn’t expect was the offer from the [American Humanist Association](http://www.americanhumanist.org/news/details/2010-03-humanists-prepare-to-hold-lgbt-inclusive-prom-in-miss) to be the one to step up to the plate, with an offer to host a gay-friendly event. Bravo for the AHA, and particularly for the Stiefles, who provided the funding grant. I don’t know what it costs to put on a prom, but it seems like twenty grand ought to cover a rather nice one. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-school-cancels-prom-to-avoid-lesbian-student-bringing-a-date/532108.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-school-cancels-prom-to-avoid-lesbian-student-bringing-a-date/532108.md?page=5)