USAToday: Mississippi high school's prom controversy deepens
Tom Dempsey
"There are a lot of people involved and they don't want to get sued," said Lori Byrd, who served on the Itawamba Agricultural High School dance's parent organizing committee.
The Itawamba County School Board this month called off the school-sponsored prom after a lesbian student petitioned to attend with her girlfriend and to wear a tuxedo.
Following the school board's decision, Constance McMillen, 18, filed a federal lawsuit against school officials alleging her First Amendment rights had been violated. McMillen became an instant celebrity, making numerous TV appearances, including on theEllen DeGeneres Show.American Civil Liberties Union attorney Christine Sun, who is representing McMillen in her federal case, said her client received conflicting information on where to get a ticket for the private dance.
"She attempted to buy a ticket yesterday," Sun said.
Byrd said tickets had been available for two weeks at a local formal wear business, a fact advertised at the school with fliers and over the school PA system. McMillen showed up after the deadline Monday, she said.
"She had a chance. We didn't exclude anybody," she said. "She purposefully waited until after the deadline. I just hate it for the kids. Now they are not going to have anything."
Byrd said the private prom had adopted the same rules as the school-sponsored prom. McMillen could have attended, but she could not bring her girlfriend as her date and had to wear a dress.