Constance and her girlfriend finally celebrate

About time!

Almost two months ago the Itawamba County School District refused to allow Constance McMillen to bring her girlfriend to her high-school prom and later canceled the event altogether. Then, earlier this month, McMillen was sent to a "fake prom" after courts ruled that refusing her a ticket was discrimination.

But now, after months of media attention and painful teenage experiences, McMillen gets a second chance to celebrate. According to a Stylelist post, "Millions of outraged Americans have come to McMillen's defense, including Lance Bass (a Mississippi native), Green Day, the American Humanist Association, the American Civil Liberties Union, and Cat Cora." After receiving donations from a number of human rights groups and countless supporters, a new prom will take place in Tupelo, Mississippi on May 8, 2010.

The "Second Chance" dance is bound to beat the pants off of the average high-school prom. Musical guest Hey Champ, celebrity DJ Quest Love and other unknown stars are supposed to attend. And this time, all students are invited.

High school is tough enough without discrimination and scrutiny from peers. But Constance's determination has led to support for other gay teens. In a mass e-mail from the Human Rights Campaign sent out April 12, President Joe Solmonese said, "Since Constance McMillen and her girlfriend were sent to a "fake prom" while her classmates had their own secret prom, 72,037 HRC supporters have signed a petition to show the Itawamba County school board we're on her side."

This petition sends a message to Congress in support of the Student Non-Discrimination Act soon to be introduced in both the House and Senate. The act would extend discrimination protection to LGBT students, prohibiting any school program or activity receiving federal financial assistance from discriminating against any public school student on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.

So Constance finally gets her prom, and hopefully other LGBT students will eventually be extended the same rights as all of their peers.