“I never dreamed so many people would support my fight to take my girlfriend to the prom, much less that I’d end up being asked to be a Grand Marshal at NYC Pride,” said McMillen, an 18-year-old high school senior from Fulton, Mississippi, adding, “I’m really honored and touched to be asked to be part of this celebration.”

McMillen is the plaintiff in an American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit challenging her school’s decision to cancel the prom rather than let her bring her girlfriend as her date and wear a tuxedo to the prom. According to McMillen, who has been out as a lesbian since she was in 8th grade, Itawamba Agricultural High School officials told her that she could not arrive at the prom with her girlfriend and that they might be thrown out if any other students complained about their presence at the event.

A federal judge ruled that the school had violated McMillen’s First Amendment rights but stopped short of ordering IAHS to put the school prom back on the calendar because of assurances that an alternative “private” prom being planned by parents would be open to all students. But when McMillen went to the event on April 2, she was one of only a small handful of students from her school present. Later local news reports revealed that the rest of the students from IAHS had spent the evening in a nearby town at another private prom to which McMillen wasn’t invited.

While McMillen has been ostracized and harassed by her classmates at IAHS over the prom cancellation, her struggle has attracted national and even international support. She was invited to attend the GLAAD Awards with Wanda Sykes, was presented with a $30,000 scholarship check on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and a Facebook group supporting her has attracted over 400,000 supporters.

New York City’s annual Pride March began in 1970 as a commemoration of the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. The March has since grown to become the oldest and one of the world’s largest Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) events. This year’s Pride March will begin at 12:00 noon on Sunday June 27th. Step-off for more than 350 groups and 500,000 participants will take place on 39th Street and Fifth Avenue. The March then follows the Lavender Line to its conclusion at the intersection of Christopher Street and Greenwich Street. The Line is an identifying symbol of New York City’s Pride March and will mark all four miles of the March’s route. The route moves south on Fifth Avenue and turns right (west) on 8th Street and proceeds to the top of Christopher Street by the Jefferson Market Library. From here, the March will pass down Stonewall Place and the Stonewall Inn, site of the riots in June of 1969.

If you want to express your support for this young woman, there are several ways to do it. The Itawamba County School District can be reached by telephone, e-mail and regular mail.

Superintendent:
Teresa McNeece
605 S. Cummings St.
Fulton, MS 38843
(662)862-2159
tmcneece@itawamba.k12.ms.us

School Board Members:

• First District – Eddie Hood (a082315@allstate.com)
• Second District – Jackie Nichols (jnichols@itawamba.k12.ms.us)
• Third District – Harold Martin (hmartin@itawamba.k12.ms.us)
• Fourth District – Clara Brown (cbrown@network-one.com)
• Fifth District – Tony Wallace (twallace@nexband.com)

The addresses above are the last known addresses and are listed on the Itawamba County School site. There are reports that some of the board member addresses are bouncing.

You might note that the published “Notice of Non-discrimination Policy” on the school district’s website is:

The Itawamba County School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age or disability in the provision of educational programs and services or employment opportunities and benefits.

The following address and number have been designated to handle inquiries and complaints regarding the non-discrimination policies of the Itawamba County School District.

• Itawamba County Superintendent’s Office, 605 S. Cummings St. Fulton, MS 38843 | (662)862-2159

Unity Mississippi strongly condemns Restoration Grace and encourages Morrison Heights Baptist Church to review the countless studies that demonstrate how dangerous ex-gay “therapy” is for individuals, families, and communities.

The APA has declared that mental health professionals should not tell gay clients they can become straight through therapy or other treatments. Further, the APA has stated that research suggests that efforts to produce change could be harmful, inducing depression and suicidal tendencies.

It is time for Morrison Heights to educate itself on the science of sexuality and stop selling snake-oil to its congregation and the community at large.

Have more suggestions–especially throughout Mississippi? Leave us a comment.

Art

Art is one of the ultimate gifts. Make it unique by supporting local artists that support our community.

• Brown’s Fine Art (Jackson)
• Elizabeth Robinson Glass (Jackson)
• Rachel Misenar (Jackson)
• Tony DiFatta (Jackson)

Body/Mind/Soul

Start 2010 with a clear mind, strong body, and vibrant soul.

• Butterfly Yoga (Jackson)

Food

Everyone loves to eat! So, why not treat someone to a holiday dinner or a gift certificate?

• Bravo (Jackson)
• Broad Street Bakery (Jackson)
• Crazy Cat Bakery (Jackson)
• Cups (Jackson)
• Hal & Mal’s (Jackson)
• Julep (Jackson)
• La Cazuela (Jackson)
• Pizza Shack (Jackson)
• Que Sera Sera (Jackson)
• Sal & Mookies (Jackson)

Gifts

These businesses have unique gifts for everyone whether they’ve been naught or nice.

• Chane (Jackson)
• Diva Dog – 601-856-1616 (Madison)
• Moonlight Video (Jackson)
• Over the Rainbow (Jackson)
• Rainbow Food Co-op (Jackson)

Salons

Who doesn’t like being pampered?

• William Wallace Salon – 601-982-8300 (Jackson)
• Sun Gallery (Jackson)

Registered Charities and Non-Profits

Give the gift of giving. These charities and non-profits are very dedicated to the LGBT community.

• Unity Mississippi
• Grace House
• Rise Above for Youth
• HeARTS Against AIDS
• Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition
• Safe Harbor Family Church (Jackson)
• Jackson NOW

- or mail your sponsorship to:
Unity Mississippi
attn: Walk of Grace
PO Box 4212
Jackson, MS 39296

JPS is seeking public comment and have tabled their vote for further research.

While we applaud JPS for recognizing the seriousness of bullying and harassment, we believe that this policy misses the mark in a few important ways:

1. It does not enumerate (or spell out) who is protected from bullying. This includes, but is not limited to, bullying based on actual or perceived race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity, and economic status.
2. The policy does not spell out any procedures for addressing bullying. It, in addition, does not list any specific consequences for bullying apart from referring to the student code of conduct and the MS criminal code. This means that youth, if found guilty, could face jail time and a $500 fine at the extreme end of punishment. The policy does not give youth, teachers, parents and administrators an avenue for effectively dealing with bullying and harassment inside the school system.
3. The proposed policy does not take steps to create a safer school, including but not limited to training, education and other techniques that create long-term change in school climate.

Please take a minute and copy and paste (with YOUR name inserted) the following and send it to schoolboard@jackson.k12.ms.us.

Dear School Board of Jackson Public Schools,

As a citizen concerned with issues of bullying and harassment in our school district, I applaud your willingness to take steps to address such issues. However, I do not believe that your proposed anti-bullying policy adequately addresses the needs and concerns of students, parents and teachers.

I am asking that you amend the policy in the following ways:

1. Establish that students are protected from bullying based on the following categories, whether actual or perceived: race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity, and economic status.

2. Outline a clear procedure and steps that a person can take if they are the victim of, or a witness to, bullying. This procedure should clearly state to whom bullying gets reported, what actions the reporter can expect, and a chain of command for parents, teachers, and students if the bullying isn’t dealt with in an effective manner.

3. Offer adequate annual notification, training and education for teachers, students and parents that discuss bullying and harassment, ways to reduce it, and concrete solutions for solving this very serious issue.

While I am encouraged by the School Board’s consideration of an anti-bullying policy, as currently proposed the policy lacks elements that will make it truly effective.

Sincerely,

YOUR NAME

To learn more about the Hate Crimes Law, read Hate Crimes Bill is now Hate Crimes Law.

Help GLSEN inform education policymakers and the public about what’s really going on in our nation’s schools by completing the 2009 National School Climate Survey, GLSEN’s sixth national survey about the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth in school.

If you are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender, attended high school or middle school sometime during the last school year (2008-2009), and are at least 13 years old, tell us about your experiences in school. If you did not complete the entire school year you are still eligible. The survey is completely anonymous.

For more info and to complete the survey online, visit: www.glsen.org/2009survey

Tuesday, October 6

Discussion: What the Bible Says – And Doesn’t Say – About Homosexuality (Eudora Welty Library – 7pm- FREE)

Learn more

Thursday, October 8

Film: Mississippi Queen (Hal & Mal’s Red Room – 7pm – $5 suggested donation)

Learn more

Friday, October 9

Social: OUToberfest Kick-off and Social (Julep – 7pm – FREE)

Learn more

Saturday, October 10

Workshop: LGBT Legal Protections and Documents (Eudora Welty Library – 11am – FREE)

Learn more

Concert: OUToberfest Concert featuring Melissa Ferrick (Hal & Mal’s – 6pm – $20) (Buy tickets online)

Learn more

Sunday, October 11

Interfaith: LGBT Interfaith Service (Smith Park – 1pm – FREE)

Learn more

Social: Party in the Park (Smith Park – 2pm – FREE)

Learn more

Listen to the podcast.

Let us know your thoughts by commenting below.