Constance McMillen and the ACLU face off against Itawamba County School District officials in federal court in Mississippi. The school district now claims they were "considering" canceling the prom even before the lesbian student asked to bring her girlfriend, reports the AP.
"Schools Superintendent Teresa McNeece and school board Chairman Eddie Hood testified that they had discussed not sponsoring the prom even before McMillen challenged a rule that prohibits same-sex dates. They said they had concerns about liability problems, including possible use of alcohol and drugs at a school-sponsored event. But they also said they decided to call off the April 2 prom at Itawamba Agricultural High School because McMillen's challenge to the rules had caused disruptions. 'We were being hounded every day. Our students were being hounded,' McNeece said. 'We were having a tough time of any bell-to-bell instruction.' On cross-examination, school officials did not give specific examples of classroom disruptions."
ACLU attorneys add, "Any disruption came after the actual cancellation of the prom."
Meanwhile: The Jackson Clarion-Ledger reports school district attorneys play semantics. "In a bit of legal wordplay, attorneys for the the school board argued the district did not cancel the prom. Instead, the district merely "withdrew sponsorship" of the dance and hoped parents would hold the dance privately."
U.S. District Court Judge Glen Davidson indicated he would soon rule on the ACLU's request.
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