- Bleckley County, Georgia
Constance McMillan had the support of her family when her school refused to allow her to attend the school prom.
Derrick Martin of Cochran, Ga., has the support of his school to attend his prom with his boyfriend, but not the support of his parents.
His parents have thrown him out of the house and he is staying with a friend.
Bleckley County High School’s only rule is no dates over the age of 21.
According to the Macon Telegraph, one mother with a gay son sent the school flowers to thank them. Martin has had offers to buy the couple dinner, boutineers, a limo and tuxes.
He said he decided to go to the prom with his boyfriend after hearing about McMillan.
The superintendent said it was a first for their school district.
When will this stop? Can’t we start procecuting parents for gross negligence for kicking their minor out of the house? Not just a gay minor, but any minor? How can a parent be so ignorant to leave their child, that they have cared for all these years, in the streets because he wants to take another boy to prom? This disgust me.
@ Sean
What his parents did is horrible, but Derrick Martin is 18.
So now his parents are embarassed by the media attention. Sad reaction. They had to know his orientation and as long as it was in the ‘closet’ they were fine with it. Sad comment on parenting.
He is not a minor. He is 18 years old and sometimes children leave home because they do not the rules (staying out all night with boyfriend, skipping school, disrespect, and various other deal breakers). PArents sometime have to take a stand in order for their children to learn life lessons.
And his orientation was not a surprise to his parents, peers, or teachers.
@Maggie
While I do not know the entire story, the kid is a Honors student and a brave young man for standing up for himself. If I were his parents, I would be proud to have him as my kid.