Q of the day: should Constance leave Fulton and never look back, or return to effect change?
by: Pam Spaulding
Mon Apr 05, 2010 at 22:26:46 PM EDT
http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/15754/q-of-the-day-should-constance-leave-fulton-and-never-look-back-or-return-to-effect-changeItawamba Agricultural High School student Constance McMillen is a hero. She's paid a tremendous cost at the age of 18, no less, for standing up to the bigotry in her hometown over this debacle of attending the school prom with her girlfriend.
How many of our professional gays have put themselves on the line for equality like this? Not to take away from the work orgs do, but it's acts like Constance's that show how one individual can expose and challenge ignorance and fear. The average gay person living in flyover country is bolstered by courageous efforts to simply be treated equally in a hostile environment. It's a sobering thought that she stood up to fight against an ENTIRE TOWN. No one stepped in to tell her about the fake prom, not even any of her peers. That's immense peer pressure to avoid any support of TEH GAY at any cost in Fulton, Mississippi.
She lost, but she actually won - respect and support from around the country, as well as legal help from the ACLU. She didn't back down or hide.
