Yay, Alabama!
No, not “Yea, Alabama”…
A Circuit Court Judge overturned a decision by the Scottsboro Board of Education barring a lesbian couple from Scottsboro High’s prom — and issued his ruling in time for the girls to attend.
In making his 10:15 a.m. ruling Saturday, [Jackson County Circuit Judge John] Graham cited two federal court rulings. In one, the U.S. Supreme Court said “states and their agencies … cannot set-out homosexuals for special treatment…” The other “prohibits publicly-funded schools … from barring same-sex couples from school functions.”
What state is this again? Seriously, if we can see progress like this in Alabama, there’s definitely hope for the rest of the country. I hope the girls had a great time at the prom!
h/t mpmarus at Left In Alabama
April 2nd, 2008 at 10:08 pm
I would point out that Scottsboro, Alabama is not exactly a bastion of liberalism. Not even close. This is the tail of Appalachia, with pretty conservative social mores. If this couple can find tolerance and understanding in Scottsboro, there is real hope that the same thing can happen in any community in Alabama. That, my friends, is progress.
April 3rd, 2008 at 2:01 am
I hope these gals have a great time at the prom. Kathy, you beat me to this post by a few hours. Scooped again!
April 3rd, 2008 at 11:04 am
Sorry, Zach! mpmarus had it up well before me. We’re getting slow.
April 3rd, 2008 at 11:11 am
I don’t know who the judge is, but we should send her/him a contribution to his/her next election. (And I don’t even believe in electing judges.)
April 3rd, 2008 at 2:08 pm
I’m way more worried about third graders with steak knives than I am about lesbians at the prom!!
April 3rd, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Jennifer,
I’m more worried about three headed monsters from the planet Zorb skinny dipping with Kathy’s dog than I am about lesbian kids going to the prom.
April 3rd, 2008 at 5:48 pm
“If this couple can find tolerance and understanding in Scottsboro, there is real hope that the same thing can happen in any community in Alabama. That, my friends, is progress.”
I don’t know if you’re implying that this is something that should happen or that it’s something that has happened b/c of this ruling, but if it’s the latter, I would note that the judge is just following the law… I doubt there will be a lot of “tolerance and understand” at the prom itself
April 3rd, 2008 at 6:33 pm
The prom took place last Saturday night; reportedly everything went smoothly. If the kids at Scottsboro High are like the ones at my daughter’s HS, most of them were probably fine with it. There are always exceptions, of course.
April 3rd, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Bill, i’m so glad that you’ve been to Planet Zorb. those three headed monsters are really a concern these days. thanksfully the intergalactic alliance has opened hunting season on the monsters. you up for a three headed monster hunt? (I promise, I’ll “lose” dick cheney’s invitation this time.)
April 3rd, 2008 at 11:18 pm
“I’m more worried about three headed monsters from the planet Zorb skinny dipping with Kathy’s dog…”
No wonder she’s been acting so weird lately. And coming in all damp.