In the news recently, you may have sen a story about a Mississippi High School which cancelled the prom instead of allowing two female students to attend as dates. It might seem easy to chalk that up as a “Southern School” and take a jab at the South as if it is a monolith of conservatism and outdated prejudice. But that would be so wrong! Indeed the very characterization itself is somewhat bigoted, and everyone everywhere needs to turn a lens on themselves to see how open minded they are. Or do they quickly jump to “othering” and grouping people in an inadequate way. The linked story is about another school in Georgia taking a very different stance from the Mississippi school. Here’s a clip from the story:

That’s because the 18-year-old senior is gay, and he plans to take his boyfriend to the year’s most anticipated dance. Derrick Martin, a senior at Bleckley County High School, stands outside the school Monday. That’s something that’s never happened in this small Middle Georgia town. A similar plan by two female students in Mississippi this month prompted school officials there to cancel the prom, making national news.

Personally, what is so astounding to me, is how kids are coming out in High School, and possible even before. When I was in High School I was not in touch in any way with being gay. I think others were. Others thought I was gay, but even the idea of identifying my sexuality was the farthest thing from my mind at that point. I remember a few years out of High School, running into a school friend at a gay bar. Neither of us came out until after graduation, and we laughed about it. How much easier High School would have been , if we had known about ourselves and felt supported by others.

There are “take home” messages in this story for activists and others interested in shaping the world in which we live.

• More focus and attention needs to go to our GLBT youth. The changing attitudes about gays and lesbians in general is creating an environment  where kids are coming to terms with their sexuality earlier, and they need support.
• Good stuff as well as bigotry and bad stuff can be found everywhere. While some generalizations may seem true, we have to look past these superficial stereotypes and deal with the complex real world.

via Bleckley school officials allowing gay prom date – Living – Macon.com.