A tiny high school in Missouri will yield to a gay male student’s request to bring his boyfriend to the prom.
The student, Stacy Dawson, had sought permission to bring his boyfriend to the Scott County Central High School April 20 prom, KMOV reports. His request was initially denied, however, because the school’s policy does not allow couples of the same gender to attend school dances.
Patheos.com notes that the official student handbook states, “High school students will be permitted to invite one guest, girls invite boys and boys invite girls.
Late last week, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) threatened legal action over the policy, alleging an unconstitutional denial of Dawson’s rights.
“I have lifelong friends at this school, people I’m really close to that I want to be able to share the experience with them, and with my boyfriend,” Dawson told WPSD, the local NBC affiliate.
Alvin McFerren, superintendent of Scott County Central Schools, has reportedly contacted Dawson’s grandmother since the SPLC threatened legal action. McFerren’s message was that Dawson could bring his boyfriend to the prom after all.
“I was incredibly happy,” Dawson told WPSD after hearing the news. The unnamed beau was reportedly happy as well.
The attorneys working on Dawson’s behalf aren’t satisfied yet, though: They want something in writing by Feb. 25.
McFerren said that he expected to have the policy changed by then.
Scott County Central High School in the rural southeastern corner of Missouri has an enrollment of approximately 180 students. It is famous for its legendary boys’ basketball team, which has won 16 state titles.
Current Georgetown University forward Otto Porter is an alumnus of the school.
