<p>I hope this girl goes to a good college where she is finally accepted for who she is. My U puts on a prom every year (through our LGBT groups) and I hope one day she can go to something like that and at least get a prom that she can actually enjoy (even if it wasn’t the high school prom that she deserved).</p>
<p>She deserves a lot more than $35K for what the school district allowed what happened to her and the Special Needs kids that were also snookered into going to the sham prom (I hope they got something too).</p>
<p>Ms. McMillen and the ACLU showed that they weren’t just out for the money in settling for $35K. I’m sure that amount will make the school administrators and school board think twice about discriminating against gay/lesbian students in the future.</p>
<p>I wonder if the school administrators/school board members realize (and appreciate) that just settling for $35K was a gift.</p>
<p>Another compelling story about a gay student and a prom was reported by Huffington Post, which I can’t link to here because it’s a blog.</p>
<p>Here’s part of the story:</p>
<p>"I recently wrote about Derrick Martin, the gay teenager from Georgia who sparked a media firestorm when he asked his school if he could bring another boy to prom, and who has turned his experience into a project to help other LGBT youth in crisis by founding Project LifeVest. Readers may remember that while his prom request was approved by the School Superintendent, due to the intense media coverage Derrick was kicked out of his home by his parents.</p>
<p>After my last report, readers wanted to know how Derrick was doing, what has happened with his parents, and get more information on what he has gone through and his plans for the future. I was lucky enough to be able to interview this amazing young man, who is moving forward and stepping up to be a great leader for the LGBT community and a great advocate for at-risk youth…</p>
<p>Project LifeVest is an organization dedicated to helping LGBTQ youths in need. If a teen is kicked out for being gay, and has nowhere to turn, we will do whatever we can to help. If someone falls under the scrutiny of the media, like I did when I came out saying I was going to prom, we will be there to direct the media, to be a wall of protection from the stress that comes with media.</p>
<p>We also want to be there for anyone who is injured because of hate or discrimination. We have already worked with a kid whose father, in a fit of rage, stabbed him in the leg with a rusty shovel. We have the connections, and the passion to help those who need it. Discrimination is something that no one should have to endure, especially alone."</p>
<p>[School</a> district ordered to pay legal fees for lesbian student - CNN.com](<a href=“http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/10/27/mississippi.lesbian.student.suit/index.html]School”>School district ordered to pay legal fees for lesbian student - CNN.com)</p>
<p>Judge orders school district to pay her legal fees. </p>
<p>What’s more disgusting about this whole situation is how many people are attacking her on CNN (the comments). People disgust me. There is so much hate and violence against the LGBT community and these people are the very reason why. </p>
<p>Gah.</p>