UPDATE: Mississippi Safe Schools Commission Reports Dozens of Offers to Host LGBT Inclusive Prom
March 15, 2010
The Mississippi Safe Schools Commission told USA Today on Monday that the group has received dozens of offers from across the nation to host an LGBT inclusive prom for the students at Itawamba Agricultural High School.
The offers come in response to that school’s decision to cancel prom after lesbian student Constance McMillen petitioned to bring her girlfriend to the event.
USA Today reports that “Matthew Sheffield of the Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition said his office was flooded by people looking to help.”
“We have so many people willing to donate money, resources, time,” Sheffield said. “We are trying to figure out what we are going to do.”
One such offer came from Sean Cummings, a hotel owner in New Orleans, who offered to supply transportation for all interested students, a venue and entertainment for the evening.
Openly lesbian comedian Wanda Sykes extended an offer of her own during Saturday’s episode of The Wanda Sykes Show on Fox.
SYKES: Constance, do you have any plans on April 17th?
CONSTANCE MCMILLEN: Uh, I don’t.
SYKES: You don’t? Well on April 17th, GLAAD, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, they’re presenting me with the Stephen F. Kolzak award. It’s given to an openly gay member of the entertainment community for, you know, standing up and trying to fight homophobia. And GLAAD, they allow the recipient to choose the person who they want to present them with the award and Constance, I would be honored if you could come out to LA, bring your girlfriend and present the award to me.
MCMILLEN: Wow. Thank you.
SYKES: So what do you say?
MCMILLEN: I would be happy to do it.
(For more information about the 21st Annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles, click here)
GLAAD will continue to follow developments in this story. Updates can be found on GLAADblog.org
Related Posts:UPDATE: ACLU Sues Mississippi School after District Cancels Prom over Lesbian Couple
March 12, 2010
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a lawsuit on Thursday against a Mississippi high school that cancelled its prom after a lesbian student asked to bring her girlfriend to the event, according to ABC News.
“All I want is the same chance to enjoy my prom night like any other student. But my school would rather hurt all the students than treat everyone fairly,” said Constance McMillen, an 18-year-old senior at Itawamba Agricultural High School in Fulton, Mississippi. “This isn’t just about me and my rights anymore – now I’m fighting for the opportunity of all the students at my school to have our prom.”
Christine Sun, McMillen’s attorney and Senior Counsel with the ACLU national LGBT Project, told CBS’ The Early Show that the ACLU is “fighting tooth and nail” to the get the prom reinstated so “Constance can bring her girlfriend to the prom, wear a tuxedo, and everyone can be themselves.”
The lawsuit specifically asks the court to reinstate the prom for all students, charges that the First Amendment guarantees students’ right to bring same-sex dates to school dances, and cites cases holding that other parties’ objections don’t justify censorship. The ACLU also said that the school further violates McMillen’s free expression rights by telling her that she can’t wear a tuxedo to the prom.
GLAAD will continue to follow developments on the story. Be sure to check GLAADblog.org for updates.
Related Posts:Mississippi School District Cancels Prom over Lesbian Couple
March 11, 2010
A Mississippi school district cancelled a local high school’s prom on Wednesday after an openly lesbian student asked to bring her girlfriend as a date, The Associated Press reported on Thursday.
In a statement released by the Itawamba County school district, school board members state that “Due to the distractions to the educational process caused by recent events, the Itawamba County School District has decided to not host a prom at Itawamba Agricultural High School this year.”
The student, Constance McMillen, 18, told Jackson, Miss. newspaper The Clarion Ledger that the cancellation is retaliation for her request to bring her girlfriend to the event.
“I feel like I should be able to go and be myself and not have to worry about what clothes I’m wearing or who I am bringing or who I’m dancing with,” McMillen said.
USA Today reports today that “school officials told McMillen last month that she could not bring her sophomore girlfriend to the prom and also told her she could not wear a tuxedo. The school then circulated a memo that prohibited same-sex dates.”
McMillen then contacted the Mississippi chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union about the ordeal.
ACLU attorney Christine Sun told USA Today that the ban on same-sex dates is a violation of McMillen’s constitutional rights. “We believe the law is pretty clear,” Sun said. “The school just can’t arbitrarily say you have to bring an opposite date to the prom.”
In hopes of circumventing the law, however, Itawamba County school district officials are urging citizens to organize a “private event” for the high school’s juniors and seniors. A private affair would not require LGBT inclusivity.
GLAAD will continue to follow developments in this story.
Related Posts:Chicago-Area Student Files Complaint After Teacher Uses Anti-Gay Slur
October 15, 2009
Jordan Hunter, 17, filed a complaint against a Geneva High School teacher after the instructor used an anti-gay slur in the classroom on October 5.
According to The Advocate, David Burk, a veteran consumer education teacher, made the comments while discussing taxation and the National Endowment for the Arts.“How would you feel about your tax dollars going to pay some black f*g in New York to take pictures of other black f*gs?” Burk reportedly asked the class.
“I’m personally offended,” Hunter told the Chicago Tribune. “I just think it’s completely unacceptable for a person in that position to make any comments that are discriminatory toward any group in a classroom setting.”
Hunter was placed in an alternate class after reporting the incident to school officials.
At a meeting on Tuesday, the Geneva School District 304 (IL) voted to issue a warning to Burk. NBC Chicago reported on Thursday that “a letter of reprimand [will be] placed in his permanent file.”
Burk later admitted to the comments and read an apology to his students on Tuesday.
“The message I conveyed was insensitive and hurtful,” read Burk’s letter. “This is not what I had intended.”
Hunter, however, is not convinced that the school board’s decision is an appropriate result.
“I’m disappointed and shocked,” Hunter told NBC of the outcome. “I thought they would take it more seriously than they did. He’s more than entitled to his views and opinions, but there’s no reason he needs to express them in the classroom.”
Hunter has reached out to GLAAD and we have offered any media resources necessary to help share his story.
GLAAD will continue to monitor the media’s coverage of the Geneva School District’s response to anti-gay slurs in the classroom. Updates can be found on GLAADblog.org.
Related Posts:Orange County School District Agrees to Mandatory Harassment/Discrimination Prevention Trainings Following Outrageous Incidents of Homophobia and Sexism
September 10, 2009
On Wednesday morning, Newport-Mesa Unified School District in Orange County settled the lawsuit brought against them in March by the ACLU of Southern California for failing to address the hostile environment of homophobia and sexism at Corona del Mar High School, which permitted a particularly vicious verbal attack against one student.
The LA Times reported that in January three football players posted a video on Facebook, in which they voiced anti-gay slurs and suggested sexually assaulting and killing their female classmate, Hail Ketchum, who was playing the role of Mimi in the high school’s version of the musical ‘Rent.’ 600 students viewed the video before it was removed.
An LA Times Blog article published the day that the ACLU filed its suit reported that administrators did little to punish the boys or protect Ketchum, who had to rearrange her class schedule to avoid the boys, one of whom threatened her in person.
According to the Orange County Register, the ACLU stated in March that Corona del Mar High School administrators were “permitting and sanctioning an atmosphere that is hostile to female, lesbian, bisexual, gay, and transgender students in general, and has led to despicable threats of violence against one student in particular.”
While school district officials still admit to no wrongdoing, they did agree to settle the case outside of court. According to the blog GregInHollywood, the terms of the settlement require that the district provide:
mandatory training sessions for administrators, teachers and students that will focus on the harmful impact of sexual discrimination and harassment, as well as on federal law and district complaint protocols to be followed whenever anyone experiences discrimination or harassment based on sex, sexual orientation and gender identity.
The district will also provide a written apology to Ketchum, who is now a freshman at Loyola Marymount University, and agreed to publicly identify herself for the first time on Wednesday.
The LA Times quoted a statement read by her parents at a news conference Wednesday morning, in which Ketchum said:
No one else will have to go through what I went through… I hope the students of Corona del Mar High School will learn from my experience that it’s possible to stand up for what is right and prevail.
GregInHollywood reported Ketchum as saying:
[Those attacks] were disgusting and very disturbing to me personally… But what was really disheartening is that when I complained about them, the administrators did little to deal with them. I’m happy that the settlement provides the school with a road map of how to address situations like this more appropriately.
Schools around the country are struggling to deal with this type of discrimination and harassment every day. Our sister organization, the Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), has been working since 1995 to make schools safer for all students. We recommend several resources they have to offer for school officials, parents, and students alike at http://www.glsen.org/cgi-bin/iowa/all/antibullying/index.html
We at GLAAD will continue to monitor media reports of homophobia and sexism in schools and keep you informed.
Related Posts:Minnesota Based Online GLBTQ High School to Start Classes in January
August 5, 2009
According to the Pioneer Press in the Twin Cities, a new online high school will make it easier for GLBTQ students feel comfortable while working towards their diploma. The GLBTQ Online High School will open its doors in January 2010, becoming the first institution of its kind.
Up until this point there have been online high schools and brick and mortar GLBTQ high schools, but never an online school explicitly for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer youth.
The GLBTQ Online High School is based out of Maplewood, MN, and the idea was executed by David Glick, Minnesota’s first online coordinator at the Minnesota Department of Education. Glick created it after he saw that there was a need to reach out to young GLBTQ people who live in places where there are not a lot of other GLBTQ people to relate to or who live in a potentially hostile environment where they are not accepted.
Critics of the school say that it would further isolate teens who may already be at risk. Glick, however, believes otherwise. He said, “We may not bring people closer physically — but we will in every other way. We want to make them feel more confident about who they are.”
Curriculum at the school includes courses that meet national criteria, but also includes lesson plans that help to abolish negative messages about GLBTQ people. The school will also include courses that use online communication tools and highlight GLBTQ people in history, a subject matter that is glaringly absent from most public school education.
People of any sexual orientation can enroll, and there are programs in place to help teens come out to their families before applying. The school has already started accepting applications.
http://www.glbtqonlinehighschool.com/
It’s encouraging to see more educational options like this one that offer a safe leanring space for GLBTQ students. GLAAD will continue to monitor media coverage about the GLBTQ Online High School.
Related Posts:Chicago’s Queer Prom 2009: Amor sin fronteras/Love Without Borders
March 6, 2009
Dancing it up at Queer Prom 2008.
“Amor sin fronteras” or “Love Without Borders” is this year’s theme for the only prom for and by LGBT youth in the Chicago area. Queer Prom 2009 will take place on May 29th at the National Museum of Mexican Art.
“We want to provide a feeling of community, an event that identifies the Latin@ community, the gay community and Pilsen as a neighborhood…I think a lot times a young gay person, especially in schools in La Villita [a predominantly Mexican neighborhood] feel isolated from the gay community. The only thing they know is Boystown [a predominantly gay white male neighborhood in Chicago], clubs and the commercial aspects of being gay. We mean to connect them to another aspect of the community, ” said Tania Unzueta, Coordinator of Queer Prom 2009.
“Amor sin fronteras” es el título del Queer Prom 2009 que es el único evento de este tipo para la juventud en el area de Chicago. El evento se llevará acabo el 29 de mayo en el Museo Nacional de Arte Mexicano.
“Queremos proveer un sentido de comunidad, un evento que identifica a la comunidad latina, la comunidad gay y Pilsen como barrio…Creo que muchas veces los jóvenes gays, especialmente en La Villita [barrio predominantemente mexicano] se sienten aislados de la comunidad gay. Lo único que conocen es Boystown [barrio predominantemente de hombres gays anglosajones], centros nocturnos y el aspecto comercial de ser gay. Nosotros buscamos conectarlos a otras partes de la comunidad”, comentó la coordinadora del evento Tania Unzueta.
The first Queer Prom
The first Queer Prom took place in 2004 with the theme, “Noche de arcoiris” or “Rainbow Night” as an event sponsored by Homofrecuencia, the only Spanish language radio show by and for LGBT youth in the United States and recipient of a Special Recognition at the 19th Annual GLAAD Media Awards. The coordinators were not sure what was going to happen.
El primer Queer Prom se llevó acabo en el 2004 con el título de “Noche de Arcoiris”. El evento fue patrocinado por Homofrecuencia, el único programa radial en español ejecutado por y para los jóvenes LGBT en EU y recipiente de un reconocimiento especial en la 19ª entrega de los Premios GLAAD. Los coordinadores en ese entonces no sabían que iba pasar.
All dressed up.
“The community in general has asked us, ‘Why have an event that segregates gay youth?’ Our response to that is that when all youth are able to go to school feeling safe then there won’t be a need for such events,” said Unzueta. T
he coordinator of Queer Prom 2009 states that some of the challenges they’ve received to the event parallel those that have also challenged the proposed Social Justice High School – Pride Campus.
The high school aims to have a curriculum and environment that is inclusive of LGBT students. Currently, Chicago Public Schools has delayed a Board of Education vote on the campus that would be a first in the area and only second in the country to the Harvey Milk High School in New York City.
“La comunidad en general nos ha preguntado, ‘Por qué tener un evento donde se estan aislando?’. Nuestro argumento es que cuando todos los jóevens tengan el derecho de ir a la escuela y sentirse seguros no habrá necesidad de estos eventos”, comentó Unzueta.
La coordinadora del Queer Prom 2009 comenta que algunos de los comentarios en contra de el evento son parecidos a aquellos comentarios que retan al Social Justice High School – Pride Campus. Esta escuela aspira tener un plan de estudio que incluye la historia de la comunidad gay y también de crear un espacio donde los jóvenes LGBT se sientan seguros.
El departamento de educación de Chicago ha demorado el voto para implementar esta escuela que sería la primera de su tipo en esta area y la segunda en el país. La primera fue la Harvey Milk High School en Nueva York.
Smiling faces.
Queer Prom is more than just a party. The coordinators and attendees feel that they are uniting to celebrate their common experiences, “How beautiful to gay! How beautiful to be Latin@!,” Unzueta finalizes. For more information about Queer Prom 2009 visit www.wrte.org/homofrecuencia or call 312-455-9455 x203.
Queer Prom es más que una fiesta. Los coordinadores y participantes sienten que se estan reuniendo para apreciar sus experiencias comunes, “Que bonito es ser gay! Que bonito es ser latino!”, finalizó Unzueta. Para más información sobre el Queer Prom 2009 visita www.wrte.org/homofrecuencia o llama 312-455-9455 x203.
Top Stories Today – 10.24.2008
October 24, 2008
National News:
- Associated Press – Calif. Gay Marriage Ban Backers Target Businesses
- The Wall Street Journal – EDITORIAL: Big Labor Does Gay Marriage
- USA Today – Churches Square Off for Voters on California Gay Marriage
- Reuters – Malaysia Muslim Body Issues Fatwa Against Tomboys
- The New York Times - Austria Confronts a Leader’s Sexuality
Regional News:
- Miami Herald (FL) – Poll: Gay-Marriage Ban Just Short of Passing
- Chicago Tribune (IL) – Daley Has Concerns on School for Gays
- Associated Press (UT) – Gay Marriage Advocates to Petition Mormon Leader
- Chicago Tribune (IL) – OP-ED: Providing Refuge
- Sacramento Bee (CA) – Nine ARC Leaders Still Standing
- Contra Costa Times (CA) – Former Patton State Technician Sentenced in Case Involving Transgender Patient
- The Fort Myers News-Press (FL) – Gay Marriage a Huge Draw for Florida Voters
- Chicago Tribune (IL) – OP-ED: Yielding to Bias
- San Jose Mercury News (CA) – Google Co-Founders Brin and Page Among Large Donors to Campaign to Defeat Prop. 8
- The Denver Post (CO) – Focus on the Family Focuses on Homosexuals
- North County Times (CA) – Woman Arrested for Theft of Pro-Prop. 8 Signs
- KOCO5 [Oklahoma City] (OK) – Anti-Gay Church To Protest At OCU
- The San Jose Mercury News (CA) – Tech-Savvy Clerk Solves Marriage License Tussle
International News:
- The Vancouver Sun (Canada) – Ottawa Anglicans Poised to Bless Same-Sex Marriage
- ABS CBN News (Phillipines) – Comedian Jon Santos Discloses Gay Marriage
- Associated Press (United Kingdom) – London Priest Apologizes for Blessing a Gay Union
From the Blogs:
- Top of the Ticket (Los Angeles Times) – Same-Sex Marriage Advocates Strike Gold and Are Spending It
- Queerty – Chicago Mayor Comes Out Against Gay High School
- Box Turtle Bulletin – Anti-Gay Students Keep Control of Student Government at Sacramento Area Junior College
- The Bilerico Project – Google: Profit Before People
- Good As You – Video: Equality — ‘Make it Work!’
- FiveThirtyEight.com – Prop 8 a Toss-Up
- Top of the Ticket (Los Angeles Times) – John Templeton Jr. Goes After Barack Obama, Gay Marriage
- Good As You – Rock the vote, AFA style
- Towleroad – Jerry Lewis Still Loves ‘F*g’ Jokes
- Queerty – Yes On 8 Sends Threatening Letters To Pro-Gay Opposition
- The Stranger – Fascinating Article About Genetics and Homosexuality
- Pam’s House Blend – 8 Against 8 – Day 5: approaching $10,000 to fight Prop 8!
- Pam’s House Blend – Daddy D takes the DeLorean into the homofantastic future
Chicago’s Proposed School Would Keep LGBT and Ally Students Safe
September 23, 2008
The below post is by Sarah Kennedy, the Central Region’s Media Field Strategist here at GLAAD.
My brother is not gay. He is, however, an ally. He grew up with two openly gay siblings, and at his Midwestern high school he stands up for kids who get bullied because they are gay or people think they’re gay. In fact, he’s just about the only one there who does.
An ally supports Harvey Milk H.S. students
This past Thursday, Chicago Public Schools held a community forum at Chicago’s Center on Halstead to give community members the opportunity to discuss the proposed school. The Chi Town Daily News reported that the plans were well received and that during a “lengthy question and answer session, most audience members voiced support for the project.”
Reading through the media coverage of the proposed school, I thought of how amazing it would have been for me growing up in the Midwest if I had the option to go to a high school where I felt comfortable – and safe – being myself. As a former closeted high schooler, and as somebody who now worries about the safety of the students my brother tells me about, I’m excited Chicago is starting to take these steps.
I remember hearing about the Harvey Milk High School when it opened five years ago in New York City, and the way the media latched on to the story. The school was designed around the needs of at-risk LGBT students, yet the news stories weren’t about students‘ safety or anti-gay bullying. Instead, the focus was on the sensationalistic aspects.
People all over the country questioned the idea of Harvey Milk High School, rather than discussing how truly difficult it can be for an LGBT student to simply walk down the hallway. Sure, my younger brother would stick up for you, but he’s the rare exception, and with teachers who aren’t equipped to intervene it can lead to disastrous situations.
Students who are the victim of bullying, harassment and violence because of their orientation and how they express themselves, like Lawrence King, are not always in an educational environment where faculty and staff have the capacity to ensure their safety and well-being.
Beyond feeling safe from bullying and harassment, there is the basic need to feel okay about yourself at school. I wasn’t out in high school, not because I was afraid of physical harassment, but I wasn’t in an environment where I believed I could have led a sort-of-normal life at school, free from being ostracized.
I’m hopeful that conversation around this school will contribute to a larger national conversation about school safety for LGBT kids. The best option is always to have students feel comfortable and safe at any school. Until that becomes a reality, schools that focus on the safety of LGBT students may just be our best bet.
