My message

I wrote the following e-mail to superintenent McNeese from the Itawamba County Agricultural High School in Fulton, in regard of her not allowing a lesbian student to bring her girlfriend as her date to the school prom:

Dear superintendent McNeese,

Even in the Netherlands, on the other side of the world from where you live, the fact you have cancelled the school prom because one of your students wanted to bring her girlfriend as a date, has made headlines. I find it incomprehensable that a superintendent, who is is supposed to have the best intentions regarding her students, is engaging in such blatantly discriminatory behaviour.

It saddens me to see the United States, which prides itself in being a country that leads the world, is so behind on issues on human rights. Allowing this girl to celebrate her prom, surely a highlight in every high school student's life, with her girlfriend, is not going to harm anyone. Forcing her to attend her prom with a boy, would be forcing her to lie. Is that the sort of attitude you would like to impose on your students?

As for other students who could be offended by this girl taking her girlfriend to the prom: what do you suppose the white students back in the 60s were thinking when black students were suddenly allowed to participate in social activities? There isn't much difference between the racial segregation back then, and the discrimination of gay and lesbian high school students in this day and age.

I sincerely hope you will reconsider your stand on this issue, and will allow this girl to attend a school sponsored (as opposed to private, as you suggested) prom, with her girlfriend.

Sincerely,

Theo van Dijk
Groningen, the Netherlands

Please consider writing her an e-mail as well, but remember to stay civil and polite, as I did in my e-mail to her. You can e-mail her at tmcneece@itawamba.k12.ms.us