While the MA Legislature is passing laws to stop bullying at school, the Itawamba County school board in Mississippi is encouraging it by making 1 student responsible for them canceling the Prom. They canceled the Senior Prom because 1 student a young lady wanted to wear a Tux and bring her girlfriend (both young ladies are gay)

This young lady approached the Principle asking if this was okay but when the Principal contacted the school board she was told no. When her parents contacted the ACLU who threatened a Law suit instead of giving in they cancelled the Prom.

Now the young lady is getting treated rather badly at school by the other seniors who are blaming her for the canceled Prom.

A school board statement said it wouldn’t host the event in Fulton, “due to the distractions to the educational process caused by recent events” but never mentioned McMillen. The decision came after the American Civil Liberties Union demanded that officials change a policy banning same-sex prom dates because it violated students’ rights. And the ACLU said the district not letting McMillen wear a tuxedo violated her free expression rights.

The ACLU filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Oxford to force the school district to sponsor the prom and allow McMillen to bring whom she chooses and wear what she wants. Same-sex prom dates and cross-dressing are new issues for many high schools around the country, said Daryl Presgraves, a spokesman for GLSEN: Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, a Washington-based advocacy group.

“A lot of schools actually react rather than do the research and find out what the rights of these students are,” said Presgraves, who was preparing to facilitate a discussion about anti-gay bullying at a National Association of Secondary School Principals meeting.

U.S. Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colo., said a bill he’s introduced in Congress would protect students such as McMillen. Polis said the measure would make it illegal to discriminate against gay and lesbian school students. He said his bill is modeled after similar laws in at least 10 states.

“This situation with the prom is a perfect example of why we need to protect students from discrimination. In this case it’s a prom. It other cases, it’s getting beaten up or killed,” Polis said

What is this school board thinking? Why MUST the date be of the opposite sex? So if you can’t find a date you can’t bring a friend? The Prom is a night for Seniors to enjoy regardless of sexual orientation and for the board to cancel and make this student a target for bullying is irresponsible and they should all be dismissed and a new board selected.

According to today’s Herald Gov. Deval Patrick is saying he will make appearances on “Conservative” talk radio shows during the upcoming election.

This is the strongest indication he plans to stay and run for re-election and that he is not going to hide from the tough questions like Martha Coakley did.

You have to give credit to the Gov. and acknowledge that this is a good move for him if he has any hope of reaching the unenrolled voters. He realizes that to get a second term he needs to get back to the unenrolled who he reached out to in his grassroots run and get them re-energized. In this economy with High unemployment and local aid cuts he is facing long odds but is showing he will not run from the fight.

Shows like Howie Carr, Michael Graham, Jay Severin and Dennis and Callahan have huge followings and Scott Brown used these platforms to reach across the party lines. The Gov. will not face the rather friendly fire Scott Brown did but has to talk with people who have made the following comments according to the Herald:

Howie Carr on WRKO-AM (680) calls the governor “Coupe Deval,” endlessly mocking Patrick’s controversial decision to lease a luxury Cadillac DeVille as his official state car.

Michael Graham on WTKK-FM (96.9) recently blogged, “The more these voters find out about Patrick’s massive toll-grab plan; the surge in debt and spending on his watch; and the wasted millions in bogus green scams like Evergreen Solar and the RGGI program, the lower his numbers will go.”

Jay Severin, who hosts WTKK’s afternoon-drive show, called Patrick’s State of the State address “a hallucination” and comparing it to Scott Brown’s win, said it “was like a rock concert followed by a coma.”

Gerry Callahan of WEEI-AM (850) sports radio has taken on liberals and Patrick in rants on the popular morning show, and jokingly told Democrats the last presidential election was postponed.

It will be interesting to listen to host who try to press the Gov. but not come across as angry prosecutors. They will need to be civil while grilling the Gov. and yet will no doubt will bring up episodes like cars for Welfare recipients, Marion Walsh’s attempted hiring , his staff leaving but cashing in unused sick time and his opposition to slots. It will make for great radio. The Gov. eased into this by appearing on Republican Strategist Charlie Manning’s new show on WRKO the other day. It was good listening and since Mr. Manning is new was a nice ease in for the Gov. It will only get tougher but Gov. Patrick seems committed.

Speaking of Conservative Talk Radio:

I wish these people would lay off Patrick Kennedy. His rant yesterday was another indication that this guy is still reeling from the death of his Dad and his own mental health issues. Say what you will about being born with a silver spoon but growing up in a family of divorce with a mom who has her own alcoholic and mental health issues and having to share a Dad with the country ,who himself went through years of well publicized drinking and womanizing can’t be good for ones mental health. Also knowing that your Dad could be assassinated at any time like your uncles has got to be a stress that none of us have had to deal with.
Patrick Kennedy needs Paul Kirk or Bill Delahunt to step up and in and get him some help before we see some more self destructive behavior on Patrick Kennedy’s part.