ABC Family plans movie about lesbian teen’s prom nightmare
A spokeswoman for ABC Family said the network has plans to develop a movie about Constance McMillen, the Mississippi teen whose school prom was canceled after she asked to bring a same-sex date. Diane Morgan, the network’s vice president of media relations, said the project is in the early stages of development.
Morgan said McMillen’s story has been optioned by producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron and Sony Pictures TV. Morgan said John Gray will write the script and is expected to direct.
7/21/2010
Mississippi high school settles lawsuit with lesbian teen over prom
A Mississippi school that canceled its prom because a lesbian teen wanted to bring her girlfriend has agreed to settle its lawsuit.
The Itawamba County School District is paying $35,000 to Constance McMillen to settle a discrimination lawsuit filed on her behalf by the ACLU, The AP reports.
“I knew it was a good cause, but sometimes it really got to me,” the 18-year-old said regarding her fight with the high school. “I knew it would change things for others in the future and I kept going and I kept pushing.”
06/26/2010
Brave teen from Mississippi becomes Grand Marshal of NYC’s Gay Pride Parade
The AP reports that Constance McMillen – the lesbian teen who sued her Mississippi school district over its policy banning same-sex prom dates – is scheduled to be one of three grand marshals in New York City’s 2010 Pride March.
Constance filed suit in March 2010 against the Itawamba County School District when a school prom was canceled after she asked to bring her girlfriend and wear a tuxedo.
McMillen has traveled the country, including the White House.
4/7/2010
Mississippi community creates fake prom for high school lesbian
Most teachers, parents, and fellow students attended a private prom at a local country club – without inviting classmate Constance McMillen [pictured] because she’s a lesbian. Constance was invited to a ‘lesbian-friendly prom’, but only seven students showed up.
The ACLU believes rules against same-sex prom dates and girls wearing tuxedos violated Miss McMillen’s constitutional rights. The district responded to the ACLU by withdrawing its sponsorship and cancelling the original April 2nd event.
“It was not the prom I imagined,” McMillen said. “It really hurts my feelings. These are still people who I’ve gone through school with, even teachers who loved me before this all started. I’ve never been a bad student and I don’t feel like I deserve to be put through this.”
3/24/2010
Mississippi judge says high school lesbian’s rights violated
A federal judge ruled that the Itawamba County, Mississippi school board violated the rights of 18-year old lesbian student Constance McMillen [pictured] by canceling her school prom. The school created a ban on same-sex prom dates after she announced her female date and her plans to wear a tux to the event. The judge stopped short of ordering the district to reinstate the prom, and the decision comes directly after she received a $30,000 scholarship on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
The judge ruled the school board violated McMillen’s rights. “The Court finds this expression and communication of her viewpoint is the type of speech that falls squarely within the purview of the First Amendment.” A trial will be held on the issue later, but no date has been set.
