A gay teen from Tennessee is suing his former school after they refused to let him bring a date to his homecoming prom.
Lance Sanderson has filed a lawsuit stating that his school, the all male Christian Brothers High School in Memphis, went against anti-discrimination laws when he was told that he could not bring another boy to the dance as his date, despite other students being allowed to bring female partners from outside of the school.
Lance chose to skip the dance rather than attend without being able to bring a partner, but reports that the school still suspended him for a week for having requested permission to bring a same sex partner.
The lawyers in the case, which cites breach of contract, intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligent training among it's violations, have said that that despite the school's private status it is in receipt of federal funding, and as such must abide by anti-discrimination laws and legislation.
Speaking out on the incident Lance said, 'I've been out since my freshman year of high school, and I've been a great student as well as a photographer for most of my school's events. When I first started to float the idea of bringing a same sex date to homecoming I was told that my school doesn't discriminate by a school official.
'But, when that school official left over the summer, I was met with harsh opposition by my school. One administrator told me that even though some people interpret Pope Francis's teachings on the issue as as meaning that they should support same sex couples, these people are 'not the authority to which Christian Brothers High School is accountable'.
'Now my school is making daily announcements across the whole school saying that students can't bring same sex dates from other schools.
'I just want to bring a date of my choice to homecoming like the rest of my friends and classmates. I'm not asking for special treatment. I'm just asking for respect and the chance to make my last homecoming a truly memorable experience.'
Lance's case is still ongoing.
Amy.
xx
I hope that school gets its pants sued off
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