"No Gays Prom" Blows Up In The Face Of Organizers

A small group of Indiana parents and students attempting to organize a straights-only prom have enraged most of the internet, including columnist Dan Savage and members of Anonymous.

1. Sullivan High School has become the center of a national controversy after a small group of students and parents began organizing a separate prom that would exclude homosexual students.

2. Bizarrely, the person most vocal about this “straight prom” is a special education teacher who works in an entirely separate school in a different school district.

3. Medley told local Indiana affiliates that she doesn’t believe homosexuals have any purpose in life and that a straight prom would show them the error of their life choice.

4. Medley’s full quote when asked, “Do you think (gays) have a purpose in life?”:

“‘No I honestly don’t. Sorry, but I don’t. I don’t understand it. A gay person isn’t going to come up and make some change unless it’s to realize that it was a choice and they’re choosing God.”

5. Medley, a special education specialist, also equated LGBT students with special needs students:

“It’s the same thing with my special-needs kids,” she said. “I think God puts everyone in our lives for a reason.”

Via: usnews.nbcnews.com

6. A handful of local students support the segregated prom: “We want to make the public see that we love the homosexuals, but we don’t think it’s right nor should it be accepted.”

7. As do members of the local church community: “Christians have always been prepared for a fight. Jesus gave us armor for the front, not the back; we’re not running anymore.”

8. In response to the proposed “No Gays Prom,” many have come out in support of Sullivan High School’s inclusive “All-Student Prom.”

Via: facebook.com

Via: change.org

10. Including columnist Dan Savage

(Photo taken June 13, 2011)

Image by Charles Sykes, File / AP

11. From Savage’s column:

“Send an email to the principal of Sullivan High School, David Springer, and to the school’s assistant principal, Sarah Hannon. We don’t know where the school stands on the alternate Hater Prom—at least not yet—so don’t give the school administration a hard time. Write in support of an inclusive prom and ask them to speak up in defense of the queer kids at Sullivan High School.”

12. Monday night, a small group of Anonymous members attempted to organize an occupy movement to protest the prom.

Via: @punkboyinsf

13. One member in particular began posting screenshots from what they claimed was a since-deleted “No Gays Prom” Facebook group:

Via: @punkboyinsf

Via: @punkboyinsf

Via: @punkboyinsf

16. Prinicpal David Springer maintains that any separate, segregated prom is not endorsed by the school. “Anybody can go to the prom,” said Springer.

17. “As long as they aren’t sitting there and kissing on the dance floor and grinding on each other, stuff like that, I don’t have a problem with that, I don’t see what’s wrong with it. Prom is for everybody.”

18.

LINK

Rural Indiana town's gay prom ban sparks controversy

wthr.com

19.

LINK

Local Students Want Separate Prom That Bans Gays

mywabashvalley.com