'Gay-free' prom idea backfires on supporters in Indiana town (Story update)

[The Straight Story]

Students and the principal at an Indiana high school are disavowing a campaign by parents to organize a "gay-free" prom.

Even the pastor of the church that hosted the original organizing meeting says the church doesn't back the effort to throw a straights-only prom for students at Sullivan High School in Sullivan, Ind., south of Terre Haute.

The movement began after Principal David Springer was asked to clarify whether same-sex couples would be allowed to take part in the traditional grand march before the prom, which is scheduled for April 27.

"Anybody can go to the prom," Springer told NBC station WTHR of Indianapolis. "Of course, a girl could go out with another girl if they didn't have a date or that was their choice."

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/11/16930207-gay-free-prom-idea-backfires-on-supporters-in-indiana-town?lite

[joeybee12]

1. Thanks...I posted this update in LGBT group...

Nice to see the bigots getting beten back!

[joeunderdog]

6. That happened when the Conservative Housewives tried to organize a boycott at Starbucks.

Starbucks get a boost in business because of the backlash.

[Initech]

2. Ha I love to see the bigots getting their hate thrown back in their faces!

[edgineered]

3. Interpreting Springer to say if lesbians attend they must lie about their relationship, or

more indirectly something like back in the closet with you!

Is he that stupid that he doesn't know what he said, or is he even more stupid to promote a double standard of lesbians okay but no gays, or maybe he's just being a good christian and lying about what he really means (or secretly does).

(please understand my point here, a straight ally)

[Sekhmets Daughter]

4. I think he's just trying to do his best to keep

the prom a fun time for everyone. At least I'm hoping that's the case.

[NYC Liberal]

5. Younger folks (I suppose I'm among them, being in my 20s) by and large do NOT care

about anyone being gay, and support equality and equal rights. Something like 65% of 18-25 year olds support marriage equality. I'll bet you it'd be higher among even younger kids if they were polled.

There's still a long, long way to go -- no doubt about that -- and there will always be bigots no matter what. But a lot of progress has been made in just the past 10 years. Hell, just in the last 4. The fact that shit like this is backfiring against the bigots is a testament to that.