This Is Great
You remember the Mississippi girl who wanted to bring her girlfriend to the prom. When the school -- Itawamba Agricultural High School in Fulton, Mississippi -- wouldn't let her, the ACLU got involved. The school said sure, you can come to the prom, you can even wear a tux, and then parents set up another prom and didn't tell the lesbian couple where it was, and all the other kids went to that. Only Constance McMillen and her girlfriend and a couple of learning-disabled students went to the "official" prom. I'm sure the other students thought this was a great way to get even with "those lesbians" for ruining everything.
Now we'll see who wants to go to whose dance.
Oh man, I hope Green Day plays at it.
This is a story that keeps on giving. Constance will serve as grand marshal of the annual gay pride march in New York City on June 27th, and has become somewhat of a celebrity. Full analysis and reporting HERE.
Now we'll see who wants to go to whose dance.
TUPELO, Miss. -- Green Day, former N'Sync member Lance Bass, and celebrity chef Cat Cora are among those helping to pay for a prom in Mississippi next month that's open to everyone but geared toward gay students.
The American Humanist Association also will contribute $20,000 for the May 8 event in Tupelo.
The annual prom is organized by the Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition. This year's event has drawn attention because of the case of Constance McMillen, a high school senior who challenged her school district's rule banning same-sex dates at proms.
Coalition spokesman Matthew Sheffield says plans for the event haven't been completed, but Bass is among the celebrities expected to attend. Celebrities help sponsor 2nd chance prom in Miss.
Oh man, I hope Green Day plays at it.
This is a story that keeps on giving. Constance will serve as grand marshal of the annual gay pride march in New York City on June 27th, and has become somewhat of a celebrity. Full analysis and reporting HERE.
posted by JimK at 9:24 AM
13 Comments:
Oh yeah. Those Itawamba high school kids will be lining up in droves to attend this gay party! LOL!
Hip hip hooray to the American Humanist Association, Green Day, Lance Bass, Master Chef Cat Cora, and Tonic.com for doing the right thing!
Kids all over the state of Mississippi want to attend this May 8 Second Chance Prom, which is open to everyone.
Maybe even Sarah Palin will want to support Itawamba Agricultural High School's learning disabled kids who won't be snubbed by their classmates at this Second Chance Prom. If she is sincere, she could join Roy Speckhardt, executive director of the American Humanist Association in saying, "We're proud to be standing on the side of love and acceptance instead of fear and prejudice, and we hope that the event will bring appreciation of the diversity within our society and encourage others to embrace it as a positive value that can continue to forge progress for all Americans."
If she doesn't stand up and show support for those learning disabled kids being excluded from the prom and getting a Second Chance Prom, that will speak volumes. IMHO it will show that Palin's real reason for scolding Rahm Emmanuel repeatedly by name for using the R-word in a private meeting, but never scolding Rush Limbaugh by name for defending the use of the R-word on his radio program, was purely political.
Comrade Bea --
Palin called Limbaugh's use of the word "crude and demeaning." Sounds like she rebuked him, though I listened to Limbaugh's show that day and he did nothing crude or demeaning! That being said...I don't think that Rahm Emanuel did anything wrong by using the word "retard" in the manner in which he did.
It was much ado about nothin'.
I don't recall Sarah Palin's comment on Rush's language. Could you forward a link?
It certainly says something about the parents of the high schoolers in Tupelo that they held an alternative prom without telling special needs kids, as wll as gay kids. This attitude that those who are different must be shunned is very sad -- and, I venture to say, Un-Christian.
Anon, what do you think about that perspective?
From the second link I provided above, you will find links to Palin's quotes concering both Raum's and Rush's use of the R-word:
"Did Palin Deliver a Personal Rebuke?:
Rahm: Yes. Palin devoted over 300 words to the task on her Facebook page. At a minimum, it's supposed to be her, though we do suspect from the syntax ("Rahm is known for his caustic, crude references about those with whom he disagrees") that the author was indeed Palin herself.
Rush: No. The only response to Rush's comments to date from Palin were provided via a spokeswoman to the Plum Line's Greg Sargent.
Did Palin Call Out the Offender by Name?:
Rahm: Yes. The title of her Facebook note was "Are You Capable of Decency, Rahm Emanuel?" She then referred to him by name seven times.
Rush: No. Though Sargent asked Palin's spokeswoman specifically about Limbaugh's comments, the response contained no mention of the talk-radio host, and seemed intentionally generic. It merely reads, in its entirety, "Governor Palin believes crude and demeaning name calling at the expense of others is disrespectful."
Did Palin Call for the Offender to Be Fired?
Rahm: Yes. "I would ask the president to show decency in this process by eliminating one member of that inner circle, Mr. Rahm Emanuel, and not allow Rahm’s continued indecent tactics to cloud efforts."
Rush: No.
This morning [Feb. 5, 2010], the Palin camp tried to tone down their response to Rush even further, as relatively unscathing as it already was. According to Fox News, Team Palin claims they merely provided the Plum Line with "the same comment they have given reporters for a host of other instances where someone had used the 'r' word and they are not singling out Limbaugh." Got that, Rush? Go ahead and "slur on all God’s children" as much as you want to your millions of loyal listeners. The country's No. 1 "R"-word watchdog won't single you out."
Rush is a private citizen. Rahm Emanuel is not. If you're going to spend your time rebuking someone for something they have done that is wrong, then of course you'll spend your time on the public official.
But, as I noted above, I don't think Rahm Emanuel did anything wrong.
Regarding the prom....how do we even know that the learning disabled kids weren't invited to the party and the prom and decided to go to the prom? I haven't seen anything on this. Also, are there only two learning disabled kids in the whole class? Most high schools have more than that.
Regarding the Christian perspective -- I don't know what the Christian response would be. I do know that Constance took the issue to court and won. She wasn't invited to a separate party, but the court didn't say that she had to be invited to all parties. The lesson she should learn is that taking things to court doesn't always or necessarily of even sometimes make you popular.
Emanuel used the R-word at a private meeting. Limbaugh used the R-word before an audience of millions.
All of the media that reported on the event reported the word "retard" to millions. Rush did the same thing. Did you listen to Rush's broadcast that day? I did. He didn't do anything wrong. Rush is also a great comedian and his broadcast that day was comedic.
Sarah Palin made a big deal out of nothin'. Rush should actually have come to the defense of Emanuel and let Palin know she was being ridiculous. If you want to give Rush a hard time about that, then I have no beef with it.
Also, when Emanuel is on the job, in job-related meetings, there is no such thing as "private" for him.
Awesome! See, boys and girls - this is what happens when you don't act like Jesus. You end up looking kind of small.
Open. To. Everyone. Can you hear me now?
Our school has a 'graffiti rock' in front on which students paint signs, slogans, messages, etc.
For the Day of Silence, our GSA painted it as a gigantic rainbow flag.
Hooray for Northern Virginia's Breaking the Silence event and dance. Fabulous time for our youth. Thanks Bea.
rrjr
Speaking of Proms, Prince William will be having an lgbt and allied youth prom in May. Marylanders welcomne
What a great group of kids that was last night, Robert! It was an honor to get to hear them break the silence at the open mic as they shared their reactions to the day's events at their various schools with friends, food, fellowship, film, and DANCING!
I look forward to chaperoning again next month in PW!
Did you listen to Rush's broadcast that day? I did. He didn't do anything wrong. Rush is also a great comedian and his broadcast that day was comedic.
Which part of this Limbaugh broadcast did you find comedic?
This part maybe?
From the Wall Street Journal: “Emanuel Steps Up His Apology — Rahm Emanuel privately apologized last week to the Special Olympics after the Journal reported that he used the word ‘retarded’ in a derogatory manner. But advocates for people with disabilities didn’t think that apology, coming in a phone call to Special Olympics head Tim Shriver, was enough. Now, Emanuel is taking his contrition one step farther — hosting a delegation of advocates, including two people with mental disabilities, at the White House.” They’re going to have a “Retard” Summit
Or perhaps this was comedic to you:
CALLER: I think he and a lot of people in our society use those terms as a way to denigrate those people. It is not polite. It can be hurtful. And I think that in a lot of your comments, it sounded to me as though you were repeating that.
RUSH: Well, I was. I was trying to focus attention on, once again, a loose lipped Democrat. These guys get away with insulting people left and right, they’re never called on it, and so if Rahm Emanuel can say it, I’ll just jump in to highlight the fact that another Democrat, this time the president’s chief of staff, is out there talking this way.
Rush admitted "Well, I was" when a caller said he was trying "to denigrate those people. It is not polite. It can be hurtful...[and]...you were repeating that."
Rush also falsely said "the president’s chief of staff, is out there talking this way" when in fact, the WSJ, who broke the remark months after it had been made, had reported in January 2010, before Rush aired his **comedic** broadcast:
"The weekly strategy sessions where he made the remark, called the Common Purpose Project, are by invitation only, and participants are sworn to secrecy."
Rush was wrong and if he has any reading comprehension skills, he knew it. Rahm wasn't "out there talking this way," he kept it private. On the contrary, Rush was only too happy to use such language in public and even admitted he was using it "to denigrate those people."
Raum apologized for using the term while Rush insisted:
"...our politically correct society is acting like some giant insult’s taken place by calling a bunch of people who are “retards,” “retards.”..."
and
"I’m not going to apologize for it."
Rush was wrong. Rahm did not "get away with insulting people left and right;" he used "the word 'retarded' to describe an ad campaign," not people, and he did so in a private meeting, not on the air in front of millions of listeners. Further, Rahm has apologized repeatedly for using the term Rush thinks is "no giant insult" to call people and has said he will not apologize for using on the airwaves.
IMHO Palin's different responses to each of these incidents shows she's more interested in politics than in protecting her son Trig from "unacceptable...heartbreaking...disrespect..."
Your right Bea, the kids are awesome! You'll love the way they dress for the Prom in May.
rrjr
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