Mississippi district to pay $35K to settle lesbian's suit over canceled prom

[metta]

Mississippi district to pay $35K to settle lesbian's suit over canceled prom

http://content.usatoday.com/communi...ct-settles-lesbians-suit-over-canceled-prom/1

 

[Fire]

Damn, $35k is hell of a lot of plaid flannel shirts and Indigo Girls albums.

 

[Txgoodoldboy]

Thanks for the news. That is a brave girl.

 

[MercuryJones]

I don't consider this a judicially sound decision. He was personally offended by the end run around his initial judgment, and I consider the award an abuse of his power.

I think they got off cheap.

There was a judgment, and instead of abiding by it the district compounded their original error with a workaround that did the same thing.

 

[operafan]

I think they got off cheap.

There was a judgment, and instead of abiding by it the district compounded their original error with a workaround that did the same thing.

I agree. The district leaders acted like junior high girls in creating a secret prom that wouldn't be contaminated by the presence of the lesbian.

 

[crzyrazn]

Ha!

I don't consider this a judicially sound decision. He was personally offended by the end run around his initial judgment, and I consider the award an abuse of his power.

Which is not to say I don't support Ms. McMillen. But she's already got it made- she didn't need the 35k when she is now considered, at 18, a leader in our struggle for equality.

How is this not a "judicially sound decision"? This young woman's rights were violated by a federally funded school because she was a lesbian. That's discrimination, and illegal. Which is why this statement issued by the school district is confounding:

Schools attorney Michelle Floyd noted that the district did not admit wrongdoing by settling the suit, filed by the American Civil Liberties Union. "The Itawamba County School District believes that Constance McMillen's rights under the United States Constitution were not violated by any act, omission, policy, custom or practice of the district," she said in a statement.

In truth, her rights were violated. The laws passed by Congress protecting against discrimination, which is empowered by the Constitution, are her Constitutional rights. Yes, she has become a figure in the overall gay movement, but that doesn't punish the school district for what they did. No, maybe she didn't need it, but now the school has faced real consequences, and will make similar misguided decisions on their part less wise.

 

[MercuryJones]

But a public school is under no obligation to put on a prom. And the private prom, while a beautiful display of the ignorant obstinacy of the hick town Ms. McMillen hails from, was completely immaterial to the case.

The school district conspired to exclude her from the prom, after the initial judgment.

Changes made due to fear of punishment are not really changes. Was "put that down or I'll spank you" ever a punishment method that helped you understand why you ought not have picked it up? It breeds resentment rather than changing attitudes.

Fuck that. Penalties exist for a reason. Attitudes are personal, the law is not.

 

[MercuryJones]

Not illegal. A personal slight to the judiciary- they don't take their rulings being circumvented lightly, especially by what is technically another branch of government. But unlike conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to exclude from prom violates no laws.

The district violated her first amendment rights to begin with, and then sought a work around which had the same effect.

She sued, and the school district paid up without admitting wrongdoing to end her lawsuit.

There's no wrongdoing in the deal.

 

[crzyrazn]

MercuryJones is right. It's not that the school district canceled the prom, but rather their intent for doing so; it was an offense of specific intent, which makes it discrimination. True, the private prom was nothing more than "ignorant obstinacy," and not unlawful, and only proves the extent of those people's bigotry.

No, the law won't change these people's attitude, but it will deter them from committing the same offense, thus protecting the rights of people like Ms. McMillen and yourself from discrimination, which is why law is made. And I won't say it doesn't have a greater impact by instilling in society the wisdom of tolerance and fairness.

 

[bike10]

Good see a settlement. Yes money is important but the principle of how she and others are treated.

 

[pixie77]

most employers will be giving her a wide berth, her 35k may be her only pay chq

 

[Outsidethebx86]

She deserved more, but now she has enough support and money to make a great future for herself.

This is true, but I don't like that it was such a light slap on the wrist to the Itawamba County School District. They paid out a minor amount of money, and promised to uphold a policy that they claimed to already be enforcing. So, now they can do this same thing over again and, even if someone presses charges, all they have to do is shell out another SMALL sum of money. Disgraceful

 

[metta]

Constance McMillen wins legal fees after prom

" A federal judge has ordered a Mississippi school district to pay about $81,000 in legal fees and expenses in a lawsuit filed by a lesbian student whose prom was canceled because she wanted to bring her girlfriend."

http://www.365gay.com/news/constance-mcmillen-wins-legal-fees-after-prom/

 

[diamondstar]

Good for her!

I hope other school districts are watching!

That's right. All I gotta say is "Ha Ha"