Gay student banned from high school prom (4/15)

by Ryan Hennigan

In Amite, Louisiana the principal of Loranger High school banned a gay student from a prom on the assumption that it might inspire “bullying and riots.” Jeanelle Ard, 17, a Loranger High School junior, told the school board that the principal would not allow her friend to bring a female date to the prom Saturday because the friend and the female date are of the same gender.
The school, however, did not refuse several requests for homosexual male partners to attend the same prom.
"Sometimes (schools) just say it’s against school policy, or they just don’t like it, or whatever," Amite Policeman Erman said. "They throw out all kinds of reasons. But it’s clearly just strictly because somebody’s offended by this. It’s a homophobic thing and they come up with some pretext as to why they don’t allow it."
Some may think that this type of discrimination is only present in the Deep South, where racial and homophobic tensions are still strong to this day. This is evidenced by the continued existence of large numbers of KKK members in some Deep South regions.
“It is astonishing to hear that actually happened in the U.S. I don’t think that would ever happen at PHS though,” said sophomore Tim Lueng.
At this year’s prom, although several homosexual students were in attendance, there were little or no homosexual couples seen dancing together, according to junior Patrick Ross.
“I’m sure if there were gay kid that wanted to be together at prom, our school would let them. Our principals don’t show any discrimination like that. And plus, I don’t think our students would physically challenge them or even be offended for that matter,” said Ross.