First, the good news. 
A number of news outlets and blogs, including Towelroad, have reported on the enlighten approach adopted by the Bleckley County, Georgia, School District that has agreed to allow Derrick Martin (pictured at left), a gay senior, to bring his same sex date to the school district's senior prom. The school district's response is 180 degrees from that involving the Mississippi school district that cancelled its prom rather than allow a lesbian to bring her same sex date. Here are highlights:
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"After asking Bleckley County school officials permission in January to take another boy to the prom, [Derrick] Martin got word last week that his high school will allow it. Bleckley’s prom is April 17 in the high school cafeteria. “I didn’t expect them to say yes. It’s who I am. I have the same rights,” he said. “It’s my senior prom and I wanted to be able to prove not everyone would cancel prom.” Martin is an honor student who tutors at-risk elementary and middle school students after school. He also has a full scholarship to college. He said he knew the move would be controversial for the town of about 5,200 residents. At his high school, prom dates from outside counties must be approved in advance, so Martin went to his principal and asked. “At first she said no, Cochran wasn’t ready for it,” he said. But then last week, school officials said they have no policy in place against it."
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Now for the bad news. Martin's have thrown him out of his home because he is gay and because of the media coverage. What kind of f*cked up parent would do such a thing? I have three children and I simply cannot grasp how a parent could treat a child this way. No doubt, I suspect that these unloving douce bags parents see themselves as Godly Christians. The Macon, Georgia newspaper has these highlights on this utterly messed up situation:
A number of news outlets and blogs, including Towelroad, have reported on the enlighten approach adopted by the Bleckley County, Georgia, School District that has agreed to allow Derrick Martin (pictured at left), a gay senior, to bring his same sex date to the school district's senior prom. The school district's response is 180 degrees from that involving the Mississippi school district that cancelled its prom rather than allow a lesbian to bring her same sex date. Here are highlights:*
"After asking Bleckley County school officials permission in January to take another boy to the prom, [Derrick] Martin got word last week that his high school will allow it. Bleckley’s prom is April 17 in the high school cafeteria. “I didn’t expect them to say yes. It’s who I am. I have the same rights,” he said. “It’s my senior prom and I wanted to be able to prove not everyone would cancel prom.” Martin is an honor student who tutors at-risk elementary and middle school students after school. He also has a full scholarship to college. He said he knew the move would be controversial for the town of about 5,200 residents. At his high school, prom dates from outside counties must be approved in advance, so Martin went to his principal and asked. “At first she said no, Cochran wasn’t ready for it,” he said. But then last week, school officials said they have no policy in place against it."
*
Now for the bad news. Martin's have thrown him out of his home because he is gay and because of the media coverage. What kind of f*cked up parent would do such a thing? I have three children and I simply cannot grasp how a parent could treat a child this way. No doubt, I suspect that these unloving douce bags parents see themselves as Godly Christians. The Macon, Georgia newspaper has these highlights on this utterly messed up situation:
*
But because of the media attention, Martin’s parents have kicked him out and the teen is staying with a friend, he said. Martin said he pushed to take his boyfriend to the dance after hearing about a girl in Mississippi who asked to take her girlfriend to the prom. Her school eventually canceled the dance rather than allow them to attend together. “Maybe (other gay students) will think if Bleckley County will let them, maybe my school will,” Martin said.
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School Superintendent Charlotte Pipkin said the move is a first for Bleckley County. “I’m not aware of it having happened in the past,” she said. School officials have said they have no plans to cancel or change plans for the prom.
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On the positive side, various LGBT donors have stepped up and offered to make Derrick's prom memorable despite the sick parental behavior that has to have hurt him. Here are highlights on some of the offers:
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[A]n Atlanta filmmaker said he hopes to document the story. “I sent flowers to his high school,” said Randi Reitan, a resident of Eden Prairie, Minn., who sent a bouquet of yellow flowers with a rainbow-colored balloon to Bleckley County High on Tuesday to show her support. “We have a gay son. I wish he could’ve danced with a young man at his prom,” Reitan said. She also has offered to buy Martin and his date, who is from Tift County, boutonnieres to wear on prom night.
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Drew Dowdell from Pittsburgh is setting up a link on his Web site for people to leave donations for Martin to help buy the 18-year-old a limo ride to the prom.
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My heart goes out to Derrick and I will pray that his parents wake up to the evil that they are doing by treating their son in this manner. Obviously, if it is purported Christian belief that motivates them, they are a strong argument for why one would perhaps rather be an atheist rather than a Christian.
But because of the media attention, Martin’s parents have kicked him out and the teen is staying with a friend, he said. Martin said he pushed to take his boyfriend to the dance after hearing about a girl in Mississippi who asked to take her girlfriend to the prom. Her school eventually canceled the dance rather than allow them to attend together. “Maybe (other gay students) will think if Bleckley County will let them, maybe my school will,” Martin said.
*
School Superintendent Charlotte Pipkin said the move is a first for Bleckley County. “I’m not aware of it having happened in the past,” she said. School officials have said they have no plans to cancel or change plans for the prom.
*
On the positive side, various LGBT donors have stepped up and offered to make Derrick's prom memorable despite the sick parental behavior that has to have hurt him. Here are highlights on some of the offers:
*
[A]n Atlanta filmmaker said he hopes to document the story. “I sent flowers to his high school,” said Randi Reitan, a resident of Eden Prairie, Minn., who sent a bouquet of yellow flowers with a rainbow-colored balloon to Bleckley County High on Tuesday to show her support. “We have a gay son. I wish he could’ve danced with a young man at his prom,” Reitan said. She also has offered to buy Martin and his date, who is from Tift County, boutonnieres to wear on prom night.
*
Drew Dowdell from Pittsburgh is setting up a link on his Web site for people to leave donations for Martin to help buy the 18-year-old a limo ride to the prom.
*
My heart goes out to Derrick and I will pray that his parents wake up to the evil that they are doing by treating their son in this manner. Obviously, if it is purported Christian belief that motivates them, they are a strong argument for why one would perhaps rather be an atheist rather than a Christian.
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