Texas School Caves to Threat of Lawsuit Over Prom Policy

by Jim Brown and Jody Brown
May 13, 2004

(AgapePress) - A high school in central Texas, under threat of lawsuit, has suspended its policy barring prom attendees from buying tickets for same-sex guests.

Early last week, the group People for the American Way (PFAW) asked Lago Vista High School principal Donna Larkin to reconsider the policy and vowed to sue if she did not abolish it by Friday, May 7. The prom is on Saturday, May 15. PFAW claimed the prom policy violates the constitutional rights of homosexual students.

According to The Advocate, a pro-homosexual publication, PFAW was contacted by the mother of a junior at the school who felt the policy is illegal. The 16-year-old girl, who says she is not a lesbian, wanted to purchase tickets for herself and her long-time friend, another girl -- but felt the policy discriminated against her and her homosexual friends. PFAW responded to the complaint with a three-page letter to Principal Larkin explaining the alleged discriminatory nature of the policy.

Last Friday, according to a PFAW press release, the school announced it had "suspended" the policy for the remainder of the school year and that the district would "further evaluate" the role of the policy in the sponsorship of school social activities. A PFAW spokesperson says she is confident the district will conclude that "there's no room for discrimination in public schools."

But Cathie Adams, president of the conservative organization Texas Eagle Forum, believes the school should keep the policy as it is. "I think it's a good policy -- and I'm certain that parents are very grateful for it," she says. "I mean, would it be appropriate for students to invite a transvestite or a person of immoral character to be a special guest at such an event? Absolutely not!"

The school, she says, should "stand firm" and uphold moral standards built on the traditions of America -- regardless of PFAW's threat of legal action.

"[C]ertainly there are many attorneys out there who would be willing to defend them, and probably without any cost," she states. "So I think that the school should remain vigilant in doing what is right for the students in their school as well as for the parents, who have the ultimate responsibility to direct the education and the upbringing of their children."

Adams says groups like PFAW "are out of control" with their harassment of parents and students, and wish to create chaos in public schools.