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Education Title: Gay student to miss prom over no-tux rule Carroll High School senior Claudetteia Love, an openly gay student and top academic scholar, won't attend the school's prom this year because the school won't allow her to wear a tuxedo. The school says it's simply a dress code, but Love said the school's prohibition is more about her sexual orientation than her fashion choices. Friday, she sat quietly crying in her living room as she talked about missing one of the signature events of her senior year. The prom is April 24. "I told my mom, 'They're using me. They put me in all these honors and advanced placement classes so I can take all of these tests and get good grades and better the school, but when it's time for me to celebrate the fact that I've accomplished what I need to accomplish and I'm about to graduate, they don't want to let me do it, the way I want to,' " she said. Last year, Love was one of a group of students presented in a Monroe City School Board meeting as part of the school's high achieving medical magnet program. In a school that has a failing school performance score, Love is one of the academic superstars. She will represent the school at the annual Scholars' Banquet, an event for the top students in Ouachita Parish. Geraldine Jackson, Love's mom, said she talked to Principal Patrick Taylor about the school's rule of no tuxes for girls. "He said that the faculty that is working the prom told him they weren't going to work the prom if (girls) were going to wear tuxes," she said. "That's his exact words. 'Girls wear dresses and boys wear tuxes, and that's the way it is." On Friday, Taylor said the decision was simply a dress code and not anything personal against any student. "I feel like he's taking his values and throwing them on my daughter because of what her preference is and what she represents," Jackson said. Love's sister, Mignon, said she's overheard faculty talking about the prom rule. "It's not about how they dress," she said. "They're judging them. They are at school talking about being gay is a sin. Everybody sins. The only person who can judge is God; you can't judge them." Love hadn't intended to take a date to the prom but wanted to attend with a group of friends who have also now chosen not to attend because of the no-tux rule. She says a petition by members of the senior class to change the rule wasn't acted on by faculty. According to Jackson, her daughter's overall mood has changed since she found out she wouldn't be allowed to attend the prom dressed as she chose, but Love has resolved to use her experience to make a difference for others. "There are other girls in lower grades than me, and I want for them when they come up to not to have to feel like they aren't accepted," Love said. "I don't want them to feel like they are less of a person because people don't accept them. There are people in the world that won't accept you but they don't have to be so judgmental and make you feel like you're less of a person and that you shouldn't express yourself." Following graduation, Love will attend Jackson State University on a full academic scholarship. Update: After hearing of Love's plight from members of the community who saw The News-Star's article, Monroe City School Board President Rodney McFarland contacted The News-Star to say that he will take action on Love's behalf. McFarland said he will contact Superintendent Brent Vidrine and request that he discuss the rule with the school's principal. "As school board president, I don't agree with Carroll banning her from her prom just because of what she wants to wear -- that's discrimination," he said. "As far as I know there is no Monroe City School Board policy saying what someone has to wear to attend the prom. You can't just go making up policies." Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest an openly gay student and top academic scholar, won't attend the school's prom this year Good. She needs to stay home, read the Bible and repent for her sins. She has no business going to a prom. Proms are for heterosexuals not sex offenders.
#2. To: Willie Green (#0) "I feel like he's taking his values and throwing them on my daughter because of what her preference is and what she represents," Jackson said. Well bitch. You didn't teach your daughter any values. So she is coming up against the reality that values matter. You should be ashamed mother. Putting your daughter on the road to hell.
#3. To: Willie Green (#0) Proms are so 20th century. Dump them already.
#4. To: A K A Stone (#1) Good. She needs to stay home, read the Bible and repent for her sins. She has no business going to a prom. Proms are for heterosexuals not sex offenders.
Public schools can't be forced to abide by your religious convictions.
#5. To: Willie Green (#4) Public schools can't be forced to abide by your religious convictions. What I said would best for the sexually confused young lady.
#6. To: Willie Green (#4) Public schools can't be forced to abide by your religious convictions. Just curious Willie. Who ranks higher the government or God? It seems to me that you seem to think that God should obey mankind. That isn't the way it is my friend. God trumps all man made law. If you or they recognize it or not.
#7. To: A K A Stone (#6) John 18:36 - Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm." In this world, our elected government reigns supreme, even if the majority of our elected officials are pagan or atheists.
#8. To: Willie Green (#0) WHY is this even worthy of being posted?? You're on a real social(ist) crusader roll, Willie.
#9. To: Liberator (#8) He claims to be a Moderate, go figure. “Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.†#10. To: TooConservative (#3) "Proms are so 20th century. Dump them already." As with marriage, proms are traditional. We need to keep proms until the homosexuals destroy them by making a mockery of them also.
#11. To: CZ82, Willie Green (#9) I think Willie is a moderate....but leaning decidedly more left every day. What up wiff dat, Willie??
#12. To: misterwhite, TooConservative (#10) As with marriage, proms are traditional. We need to keep proms until the homosexuals destroy them by making a mockery of them also. Excellent point, MW. The MO of the Left and the Homofascist Movement is exactly to make a mockery of and destroy ALL things traditional, normal, and right.
#13. To: Willie Green (#0) (Edited) "As far as I know there is no Monroe City School Board policy saying what someone has to wear to attend the prom." Yeah, right. But you'll have a policy as soon as a student shows up at the prom wearing a "Pro-NRA" or "Pro-Life" shirt.
#14. To: misterwhite, Liberator (#10) Proms were corny and outdated even back when we were young enough to attend them. Dump them already. Don't give Teh Gays and other pervs a chance to use them against us as fodder in the culture wars. Conservatives had better wise up about choosing their battles and the grounds they want to fight on.
#15. To: A K A Stone (#1) Proms are for heterosexuals... What guy would want to go to the Prom with a girl wearing a Tuxedo?
#16. To: A K A Stone (#6) Just curious Willie. Who ranks higher the government or God? The government on this earth and this life. From there people can wish and hope that the politicians and other thugs will be sentenced to endure compensitory suffering in the next life.
#17. To: rlk (#16) Just curious Willie. Who ranks higher the government or God? The government on this earth and this life. Wrong
#18. To: Chuck_Wagon (#15) Proms are for heterosexuals... What guy would want to go to the Prom with a girl wearing a Tuxedo? What GIRL would want to do the same? Really? Freaks who are sick in the head. They act weird on purpose because they crave attention.
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