Mississippi school pays damages to lesbian teen over prom dispute

melkissa2004 · #81 July 21st, 2010, 02:58 PM

I agree. Also, I'm not sure it's a good idea to ask this question yankeegirl but here goes... Why don't you agree with the settlement? Do not agree with the amount of money or what?

MissTorrieIfYou'reNasty · #82 July 21st, 2010, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yankeegirl88

I think that this school and all of the other schools will now pretty much let people do whatever they want to do now for fear of being sued.

Crap! All this time I thought this was just about ending discrimination of gay students and accepting the prevailing scientific view that homosexuality is a biological phenomenon that's not harmful! I didn't realize that in supporting Constance I was endangering the fabric of society and promoting an end to law and order in our schools! Darn!

#83 July 21st, 2010, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torrie

Crap! All this time I thought this was just about ending discrimination of gay students and accepting the prevailing scientific view that homosexuality is a biological phenomenon that's not harmful! I didn't realize that in supporting Constance I was endangering the fabric of society and promoting an end to law and order in our schools! Darn!

Tor, we've all known for a long time now that you're an anarchist. You don't have to hide it from us, we understand and we love you.

WineKeepsMeSane · #84 July 21st, 2010, 05:16 PM

I also fail to see how disallowing discrimination equals allowing people to do whatever they want....

The Kimber · #85 July 21st, 2010, 05:18 PM

I don't agree with her getting any money because supposedly this was about her wanting to take her girlfriend to the prom.It wasn't about money supposedly and she got the school to change their rules in the end and then the money was icing on the cake.

Why should she even get any money?But IF she had to get some money I guess $35k was fair enough......

Also,schools are being sued for this and that and there are some schools around here that took down their swing sets after being sued for one of the kids breaking their arm......

Maybe I can sue daycare because my son was bit today and has a bruise......

*Jillian* · #86 July 21st, 2010, 05:25 PM

Well, I am no expert so don't take this as fact. But if schools carry insurance then maybe after paying out on a liability case they couldn't afford any more accidents (referring to the playground incident). Could it have made their insurance go up? Maybe.

But this lawsuit isn't just about Constance getting money, it is about stopping discrimination in this country. It is wrong and just like they removed that swing set because of a lawsuit, maybe other schools will think before they discriminate against their students.

Banned-Mommiex2 · #87 July 21st, 2010, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Jillian*

Well, I am no expert so don't take this as fact. But if schools carry insurance then maybe after paying out on a liability case they couldn't afford any more accidents (referring to the playground incident). Could it have made their insurance go up? Maybe.

But this lawsuit isn't just about Constance getting money, it is about stopping discrimination in this country. It is wrong and just like they removed that swing set because of a lawsuit, maybe other schools will think before they discriminate against their students.

^^ this.

The amount of money Constance got was a slap on the wrist to the school district, honestly. It's not like she got millions of dollars. Shoot, the amount of money she was awarded won't even pay for a college education! It was basically the court's way of punishing the district without causing it financial strain. It is supposed to be a punishment, though, and the school deserves to be punished.

What I can't figure out is why there is still so much hate for a teenager. I mean, really. How can you blame her for transferring schools after what she went through in your school district? How can you be upset that she got a piddly $35k after what she went through? Why doesn't it even occur to you that the school district should have been cited for discrimination in the first place?

#88 July 21st, 2010, 07:37 PM

I don't hate her at all.

I hate that she's making money off of what happend.

MissTorrieIfYou'reNasty · #89 July 21st, 2010, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KimberlyD0

I don't hate her at all.

I hate that she's making money off of what happend.

Why?

#90 July 21st, 2010, 08:12 PM

Part of me is sad that my good friend Brian went to the school board in order to take his male date to prom and they said yes. Not that I want him to face such harassment (which he did anyways, but not to the same extent as Constance), and not that I'm not glad my school district didn't openly practice discrimination, but 35k would have been nice.

I don't object to it, but I will say that I'm somewhat shocked at how much media attention this case has brought. People get discriminated against every day, and they don't get benefits towards their college education, a car, and $35k. Again, I'm not complaining, because she fought for and deserved what she got, I just think it's interesting that she did.

I have nothing valid to add the debate, I mostly just wanted to be included.

*Jillian* · #91 July 21st, 2010, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torrie

Why?

because it's a lawsuit.

mayandsofiasmommy · #92 July 21st, 2010, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KimberlyD0

I don't hate her at all.

I hate that she's making money off of what happend.

Well, seeing that she graduated with a 3.8 GPA and will use the money for college, I have no problem at all with it.

This is a big deal because it is the first time that a school has been challenged- very publicly- about discrimination against sexual orientation. This is an important issue, and is becoming more and more important.

**Badfish** · #93 July 21st, 2010, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keskes

Part of me is sad that my good friend Brian went to the school board in order to take his male date to prom and they said yes. Not that I want him to face such harassment (which he did anyways, but not to the same extent as Constance), and not that I'm not glad my school district didn't openly practice discrimination, but 35k would have been nice.

I don't object to it, but I will say that I'm somewhat shocked at how much media attention this case has brought. People get discriminated against every day, and they don't get benefits towards their college education, a car, and $35k. Again, I'm not complaining, because she fought for and deserved what she got, I just think it's interesting that she did.

I have nothing valid to add the debate, I mostly just wanted to be included.

The media firestorm this has created is a little unusual, but I have to say that looking at this story and comparing it to what happened to Phoebe Prince, I'm so glad there was such an outpouring of support for Constance McMillan from people outside of her hometown. That wouldn't have happened if it hadn't been such a prominent story.

mayandsofiasmommy · #94 July 21st, 2010, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tammyjh

Now I'm confused.
The article seems to be all about Constance and does not mention a different teen.

Err, yeah. I blame it on being the end of the school-year and me being burned out from planning and organizing 8th grade promotion!

Cereal Killer · #95 July 21st, 2010, 11:00 PM

I am happy for her! She did what a lot of people in her shoes wouldn't have had the guts to do. She stood up for herself and she went public. She has been met with criticism and disgust but she still held her ground.

I am glad that she has taken the steps she has taken to set such a remarkable precedent. The school district that discriminated against her will be an example to other districts that there are ramifications for such treatment and blatant discrimination. I only wish that, on top of the money, all of the school officials directly involved with discriminating against Constance were fired.

MissTorrieIfYou'reNasty · #96 July 21st, 2010, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Jillian*

because it's a lawsuit.

Well that's incredibly stupid.

Cereal Killer · #97 July 21st, 2010, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torrie

Well that's incredibly stupid.

Lawsuits should be illegal. They should sue her for suing.

MissTorrieIfYou'reNasty · #98 July 21st, 2010, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StaceyC

Lawsuits should be illegal. They should sue her for suing.

You sue her for suing and I'll sue you for suing her for suing.

If we play our cards right, we can confuse the judge so much by suing for suing people who sue that he or she will give up and award us all dozens of dollars! Then we could ALL afford to hire you for a night and you could have the money you need for that crotch graft.

I have the best ideas.

*Jillian* · #99 July 21st, 2010, 11:18 PM

Shouldn't her crotch insurance be paying for her skin grafts? Where is the personal responsibility?

Cereal Killer · #**100** July 21st, 2010, 11:21 PM

I don't want my crotch rates to go up! Then I have to hike up my prices and, I don't know if you noticed, but this is not a good economy for jacking up crotch prices. I only have liability crotch insurance! I have to sue someone in order to get the new crotch skin over my busted up crotch skin.

I am never drinking coffee again. Unless I need money.