~ma to Bob and {{{}}} to lisah!

$75,000 in Brooklyn will get you a studio apartment in a fairly shitty neighborhood. If you're lucky.

Lesbian Prom Date Ban VIOLATED Constance McMillen's Rights, Judge Says

JACKSON, Miss. — The prom's still off at a Mississippi high school that canceled it instead of letting a lesbian student bring her girlfriend, but a federal judge ruled Tuesday that the district's actions did violate the teen's constitutional rights.

U.S. District Judge Glen H. Davidson refused the American Civil Liberties Union's demand to force the Itawamba County school district to put on the April 2 prom. However, he said canceling it did violate 18-year-old Constance McMillen's rights and that he would hold a trial on the issue.

That would come too late for the prom to be salvaged at Itawamba Agricultural High School. Still, Kristy Bennett, ACLU Mississippi legal director, called the decision a victory.

The American Civil Liberties Union sued the district to force it to put on the prom and allow McMillen to bring her girlfriend and wear a tuxedo. School officials said in U.S. District Court this week that they decided to cancel it because McMillen's challenge to the rules had caused disruptions.

The judge noted that McMillen has been openly gay since she was in the eighth grade and that she intended to communicate a message by wearing a tuxedo and escorting a same-sex date.

"The court finds this expression and communication falls squarely within the purview of the First Amendment," Davidson said.

As for McMillen, she said she was happy about the ruling but doesn't know what to expect when she returns to school. She attended classes a day after the March 10 decision to cancel the prom. But she said the hostility and comments from other students led her to miss school. She skipped class on Tuesday to go to the doctor and the fight is taking a toll, she said.

Sigh. I was talking to my sister on the phone last night showing her the house on the Internet and realized my downpaymwnt is more than her whole house cost. Stupid Indiana housing costs.

The judge also let the school district off the hook for having the prom, saying that there was not enough time to plan, which is bullshit. If Ellen is willing to donate money and put her name behind it, that shit can happen in two weeks.

Yeah. Also, some of the parents are holding an alternative prom, which the lesbian girl cannot attend.

I had a mango lassi at lunch AIWFG!

Production database is down...cannot do most of the things I need to do right now, and one of my backup tasks involves one of the DBAs. I'm guessing he's busy right now. Hrrmph.

Boss gave us a direction on the sort of stuff I need to learn to maximise my chances of being kept on. Damn. Lots of stuff. And the sort of stuff I need to find someone to share with me, too.

I have homeowner's insurance set up for the place now.

Re: the prom stuff

People suck

I hate the whole prom concept, but I hope someone down there throws an alternative alternative prom.