Constance goes to the White House

Constance McMillen met President Barack Obama at the White House on June 22 at his annual pride-month gathering of gay leaders and activists.

McMillen made headlines this year when Mississippi’s Itawamba Agricultural High School canceled the prom rather than let her attend with her girlfriend and wear a tuxedo.

Two private events were eventually held — a bigger one and a very small one. The American Civil Liberties Union alleges that parents and school officials diverted McMillen to a tiny “decoy” prom while her classmates attended a larger private prom 30 miles away.

“The honor of being invited to join President Obama at the White House ceremony and the amazing support I’ve received has helped me come to terms with what happened over the prom,” McMillen said. “Unfortunately, I’ve heard from a lot of other kids who are having problems at their schools, too. I am grateful that President Obama recognizes the difficulties that LGBT youth still have, and I really hope the attention my case has generated will help encourage Congress to pass a federal law barring LGBT discrimination in schools so that no one else has to go through what I did.”

On June 27, McMillen was a grand marshal of New York City’s gay pride parade.

By Rex Wockner