Constance Not Invited To Private Prom

Constance McMillen's school board in Mississippi yesterday filed a court brief claiming that her prom had been canceled to settle the "very explosive and disruptive issue" of their ban on same-sex dating. ACLU attorney Christine Sun calls bullshit on that, saying it was the cancellation itself that catapulted the story into the national news. Sun notes that the filing includes notice that parents at McMillen's school have now organized a private prom. And Constance isn't invited.

The school board's response states parents have organized a private prom at a furniture mart in nearby Tupleo. Now that the school district has withdrawn from the event, any constitutional claims are irrelevant, Griffith wrote. Sun saw information about the private dance in the filing. "Constance has not been invited, so it is clear to me that what is happening is that the school has encouraged a private prom that is not open to all the students," she said. "That's what Constance is fighting for - a prom where everyone can go."

Tonic.com is raising money for a "second chance" prom open to all students in Mississippi. That dance will be organized by the Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition.