Constance McMillen, an 18-year-old senior at Itawamba Agricultural High School in Mississippi, is fighting for her right to wear what she wants and take whom she pleases to her senior prom.
When the school district found out that Constance planned to wear a tuxedo and bring her girlfriend, who is also a student at the school, they said no way. School officials then circulated a flier that said same-sex prom dates were prohibited.
The ACLU got involved and demanded the school change the policy, claiming it is a violation of students’ rights and not allowing Constance to wear a tux violates her right to free expression. The school board responded by voting to cancel the prom.
The ACLU then filed a lawsuit in U.S. District court in Oxford to force the school board to sponsor the prom and allow McMillen to attend –– in a tuxedo, with her same-sex date.
The school board released a statement claiming it cancelled the prom ”due to the distractions to the educational process caused by recent events,” but did not specifically mention McMillen or her girlfriend.
Following the cancellation of the prom, Constance was hesitant to return to school but her father encouraged her to face her classmates, teachers and school officials.
“My daddy told me that I needed to show them that I’m still proud of who I am,” McMillen said. “The fact that this will help people later on, that’s what’s helping me to go on.”
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