JACKSON, Miss. - An 18-year-old Mississippi lesbian student says she got some unfriendly looks from classmates when she returned to school after officials cancelled the senior prom because of her request to escort her girlfriend and wear a tuxedo.
Constance McMillen says she didn't want to go back, but her father told her she needed to face her classmates and school officials. McMillen says one student told her, "Thanks for ruining my senior year."
The Itawamba County school district announced Wednesday it wouldn't host the April 2 prom - a dance celebrating graduating seniors - at McMillen's high school.
The decision came after the American Civil Liberties Union told officials a policy banning same-sex prom dates violated students' rights.
In cancelling the dance, the school district's board said the decision was the result of recent distractions but didn't specifically mention the girl's request.
"It is our hope that private citizens will organize an event for the juniors and seniors," district officials said in a statement. "However, at this time, we feel that it is in the best interest of the Itawamba County School District, after taking into consideration the education, safety and well being of our students."
Kristy Bennett, legal director for the ACLU of Mississippi, said the district was trying to avoid the issue.
"But that doesn't take away their legal obligations to treat all the students fairly," Bennett said. "On Constance's behalf, this is unfair to her. All she's trying to do is assert her rights."
Itawamba County is a rural area of about 23,000 people in north Mississippi near the Alabama state line.