Gay Georgia Senior Permitted To Take Boyfriend To Prom

18 year old Derrick Martin, a senior at Bleckley County High School in Cochran, Georgia, is doing what as yet Constance McMillen cannot: Martin is taking his boyfriend to the school’s prom April 17th. Martin asked for permission from Bleckley School officials in January, the school informing him last week that he had their approval. Martin, who is an honours student and who tutors at risk students, says “I didn’t expect them to say yes. It’s who I am. I have the same rights. It’s my senior prom, and I want to be able to prove not everyone would cancel prom.” The school’s principal, Michelle Masters, initially said that the tiny town of 5,200 was not ready for something like this, but then, last week, informed Martin that there was no policy in place to prevent same sex dates from attending prom or any other school function. “You don’t have the right to say no,” Masters said, adding “as a principal, I don’t judge him. I’m taught not to judge. I have to push my own beliefs to the background.”