cbus4life wrote: Yes. It is discrimination, plain and simple.

I understand majorspark's point, but this case is pretty cut-and-dry. We no longer live in a society where this attitude is acceptable. She was discriminated against based on sexual orientation. That is wrong.

I hope the girl and her parents fight it, take it as far as it needs to go, and demand equal rights in this regard.

If that is the case why do only 5 states have same sex marriage. Some allow some sort of legal union. The vast majority (31 I believe) outright ban it.

majorspark wrote:

FatHobbit wrote: I agree that the school board is elected to make rules, but I don't think they have any business making rules about who a student can or can't date, or who they can or can't bring to prom. That's outside their authority in my opinion.

In your opinion it is outside their authority. In others it is not outside their authority to decide what can be done on school property at a school sponsered event. Let the locals decide.

It also strange to me that the same people will jump all over a child or parent who wants to say a prayer at a school event such as graduation. Is the student not expressing his or her own personal beliefs?

If we let the locals decide, the schools still might not be desegrated in certain parts of the country.

(P.S. I AM NOT comparing the situation that homosexuals face as to what African-Americans faced, so don't jump on me for that. It is similar, but not nearly the same magnitude )

Half the kids in the school probably have people they're related to in multiple ways, and their concern is a gay couple.

SMH.

cbus4life wrote: ...

Well, yes, but the reason they cancelled is the problem.

I don't think a public school is required to have a prom. If the administrators are not comfortable with any aspect of anything that may go on they should be able to cancel it.

I don't think this is a reason I would personally make such a decision but I have no problem with an administration canceling a non-required event for any reason they choose.

majorspark wrote:

cbus4life wrote: Yes. It is discrimination, plain and simple.

I understand majorspark's point, but this case is pretty cut-and-dry. We no longer live in a society where this attitude is acceptable. She was discriminated against based on sexual orientation. That is wrong.

I hope the girl and her parents fight it, take it as far as it needs to go, and demand equal rights in this regard.

If that is the case why do only 5 states have same sex marriage. Some allow some sort of legal union. The vast majority (31 I believe) outright ban it.

Fair enough, poor choice of words on my part. I guess what i'm saying is that it extremely disheartening that this is still an issue. But, you're right, unfortunately, the attitude of the school board is still accepted, despite their discriminatory actions.

cbus4life wrote:

majorspark wrote:

FatHobbit wrote: I agree that the school board is elected to make rules, but I don't think they have any business making rules about who a student can or can't date, or who they can or can't bring to prom. That's outside their authority in my opinion.

In your opinion it is outside their authority. In others it is not outside their authority to decide what can be done on school property at a school sponsered event. Let the locals decide.

It also strange to me that the same people will jump all over a child or parent who wants to say a prayer at a school event such as graduation. Is the student not expressing his or her own personal beliefs?

Well, that is a little trickier because it is a religious action.

I admit that i don't have a problem with that at all, but it is a little different, given that their sexual orientation or the action of the girl bringing her partner to the dance is not a "religious" action.

I understand you don't have a problem with it, but why would religious expression be any different than sexual expression?

majorspark wrote:

cbus4life wrote:

majorspark wrote:

FatHobbit wrote: I agree that the school board is elected to make rules, but I don't think they have any business making rules about who a student can or can't date, or who they can or can't bring to prom. That's outside their authority in my opinion.

In your opinion it is outside their authority. In others it is not outside their authority to decide what can be done on school property at a school sponsered event. Let the locals decide.

It also strange to me that the same people will jump all over a child or parent who wants to say a prayer at a school event such as graduation. Is the student not expressing his or her own personal beliefs?

Well, that is a little trickier because it is a religious action.

I admit that i don't have a problem with that at all, but it is a little different, given that their sexual orientation or the action of the girl bringing her partner to the dance is not a "religious" action.

I understand you don't have a problem with it, but why would religious expression be any different than sexual expression?

Isn't a couple with a man and woman a form of sexual expression? Or is that only for when it's a "gay" couple that is expressing themselves? If you are worried about sexual expression, than the school shouldn't have any events where couples can go at all. Singles only.

tk421 wrote: [... If you are worried about sexual expression, than the school shouldn't have any events where couples can go at all. Singles only.

That may be where this school board is at and why they made their decision.

majorspark wrote:

cbus4life wrote:

majorspark wrote:

FatHobbit wrote: I agree that the school board is elected to make rules, but I don't think they have any business making rules about who a student can or can't date, or who they can or can't bring to prom. That's outside their authority in my opinion.

In your opinion it is outside their authority. In others it is not outside their authority to decide what can be done on school property at a school sponsered event. Let the locals decide.

It also strange to me that the same people will jump all over a child or parent who wants to say a prayer at a school event such as graduation. Is the student not expressing his or her own personal beliefs?

Well, that is a little trickier because it is a religious action.

I admit that i don't have a problem with that at all, but it is a little different, given that their sexual orientation or the action of the girl bringing her partner to the dance is not a "religious" action.

I understand you don't have a problem with it, but why would religious expression be any different than sexual expression?

Because of the whole trickiness of the "separation of church and state thing," and how/when it can take place in public schools.

Not saying i agree, but i think they are clearly two different issues in the eyes of the law, interpretation of the Constitution, etc.

Both forms of expression should be encouraged as long as it is done in a respectful manner, which i think both the lesbian couple and the students wishing to pray at school events would do.

But, all i'm saying is that, right or wrong, religious expression is different in the public sphere because of various interpretations of the "separation of church and state" mandate. I don't think they are different, but in certain instances like being in a public school, they have to be considered as such.

Con_Alma wrote:

tk421 wrote: [... If you are worried about sexual expression, than the school shouldn't have any events where couples can go at all. Singles only.

That may be where this school board is at and why they made their decision.

Possibly, but doubtful, IMO.

tk421 wrote: Isn't a couple with a man and woman a form of sexual expression? Or is that only for when it's a "gay" couple that is expressing themselves? If you are worried about sexual expression, than the school shouldn't have any events where couples can go at all. Singles only.

Sure it is. And you did not answer the question. The only place I am worried about sexual expression or religious expression is in the school district my children attend. I don't care what anyone else does.

cbus4life wrote: But, all i'm saying is that, right or wrong, religious expression is different in the public sphere because of various interpretations of the "separation of church and state" mandate.

Be prepared for the completely unoriginal argument that the Constitution doesn't say that. It does, of course, it just doesn't use those specific words.

I don't think a public school should be in the business of either encouraging or discouraging.

We rely too much on public schools for all forms of education. I'd rather they be a tool that provides the things that can't be received outside of a school.

I will say that I find it odd that they even set the rule that the date had to be of the opposite sex.

There were at LEAST 2 or 3 gay couples at my prom, and yes, even one girl coming in a Tux. It was just never a thought.

I mean, they made the rule, as has been stated, so the ground to stand on here is pretty slim...but it's just confusing why the rule needed to be set.

majorspark wrote:

tk421 wrote: Isn't a couple with a man and woman a form of sexual expression? Or is that only for when it's a "gay" couple that is expressing themselves? If you are worried about sexual expression, than the school shouldn't have any events where couples can go at all. Singles only.

Sure it is. And you did not answer the question. The only place I am worried about sexual expression or religious expression is in the school district my children attend. I don't care what anyone else does.

What exactly is being expressed by dancing? They aren't going to strip off their clothes and have an orgy on the dance floor. Do you really think high school students aren't aware that there are gay people in this country?

Upper90 wrote: I will say that I find it odd that they even set the rule that the date had to be of the opposite sex.

There were at LEAST 2 or 3 gay couples at my prom, and yes, even one girl coming in a Tux. It was just never a thought.

I mean, they made the rule, as has been stated, so the ground to stand on here is pretty slim...but it's just confusing why the rule needed to be set.

To what I understand, my school enforced this "unwritten" rule in 2003. There was a gay man in the senior class that year, and he was, lets say "strongly encouraged" to not bring a male to the dance. I believe they said it was for his safety, etc.

I'm not entirely sure if it is true, but that was definitely what I heard.

tk421 wrote: What exactly is being expressed by dancing? They aren't going to strip off their clothes and have an orgy on the dance floor. Do you really think high school students aren't aware that there are gay people in this country?

The question is why do you care how other communities govern what goes on at their events. Perhaps we should just have one national school system and dispose of this nonsense and inequality once and for all.

majorspark wrote:

tk421 wrote: What exactly is being expressed by dancing? They aren't going to strip off their clothes and have an orgy on the dance floor. Do you really think high school students aren't aware that there are gay people in this country?

The question is why do you care how other communities govern what goes on at their events. Perhaps we should just have one national school system and dispose of this nonsence and inequality once and for all.

I don't give a rat's ass what any school system does, I'm just wondering what is so offensive about two girls dancing together? Maybe I'm not old enough to understand. The only "logical" thing besides plain homophobia is trying to "shelter" kids from seeing gay couples.

Are they going to cancel the fastpitch softball season too?

A group of friends can't go to the prom together "dateless"?


We had to give our "dates" name when we registered to go and their age. As they did not allow anyone to bring someone over 21, I believe.

make her feel even more ostracized. great idea. bigots.

majorspark wrote:

cbus4life wrote:

majorspark wrote:

FatHobbit wrote: I agree that the school board is elected to make rules, but I don't think they have any business making rules about who a student can or can't date, or who they can or can't bring to prom. That's outside their authority in my opinion.

In your opinion it is outside their authority. In others it is not outside their authority to decide what can be done on school property at a school sponsered event. Let the locals decide.

It also strange to me that the same people will jump all over a child or parent who wants to say a prayer at a school event such as graduation. Is the student not expressing his or her own personal beliefs?

Well, that is a little trickier because it is a religious action.

I admit that i don't have a problem with that at all, but it is a little different, given that their sexual orientation or the action of the girl bringing her partner to the dance is not a "religious" action.

I understand you don't have a problem with it, but why would religious expression be any different than sexual expression?

Two girls dancing together is not the same as forcing prayer down students' throats. There is a huge difference.

I say let to women go together are long as they are hot.. Lipsticks lesbians are hot.. Butch dykes are not.

What would the school do if two girls just decided to dance together without going to the dance as a couple? Pull them off the dance floor and immediately suspend them?

Not if they are HOT lol.