Mississippi School Cancels Prom to Prevent Attendance By Lesbian Couple

The Itawamba County School Board in Mississippi voted to cancel a scheduled prom because a female student petitioned the school to bring a female date. The board released a formal statement:

Due to the distractions to the educational process caused by recent events, the Itawamba County School District has decided to not host a prom at Itawamba Agricultural High School this year. . . .

The student, Constance McMillen, is an 18-year-old senior. She, represented by the Mississippi Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, challenged a school policy excluding same-sex couples from attending the prom as dates.

Reminiscent of Jim Crow South
The decision to cancel the prom is reminiscent of policies in the Jim Crow South. After the Supreme Court held that racial segregation was impermissible in various public facilities, several southern states closed the facilities altogether in order to avoid integration.