Hey, Dan, I'm both a huge fan of yours and an 19-year-old lesbian college student. As a favor to my (fundamentalist) parents, I'm living at home and going to a school nearby to save them money. I'm terrifed to come out to my parents, especially my bat-shit crazy dad, who threatened to kick me out of the house for watching the Wanda Sykes Show on a Sunday. When I was in middle school, I was gay-bashed and raped, and then exercised my right to choose out of desperation. I've never told anyone in my family for fear of being shunned due to both the abortion and the gay thing. I'm plotting to leave the state as soon as financially possible, but it looks like that'll take an unbearable amount of time.

I'm writing to thank you for all that you do for the LGBT community in general and the queer youth of America in particular, especially in bringing attention to avenging Constance McMillen's prom. Not enough attention is payed to correcting anti-gay prejudice when it is directed at teenagers both intentionally and intentionally, in school, at home, or elsewhere. Constance isn't the only young adult receiving shit about her sexual orientation, but she is one of the few who have been brave enough to not only shine light on her ordeal but to do so in a way that can bring hope to this girl in NorCal, who envies her courage and sympathizes with her pain.

Lesbian Over Very Excesive Riddicule

Thanks for the kind note, LOVER, and please hang in there.

As for everyone else: I've been hearing from closeted gay kids all over the country who are watching the national response to Constance McMillen's case—the support Constance is getting, the grief the Itawamba County School Board is getting—and it's filling them with hope. The ACLU's request for an injunction that would prevent the school board from canceling prom will be heard by a judge in Mississippi on Monday. In the meantime, folks, keep those emails and phone calls coming. Those numbers and email addresses once again:

Superintendent Teresa McNeece
tmcneece@itawamba.k12.ms.us
phone (662) 862-2159 Ext. 14
fax (662) 862-4713

Principal Trae Wiygul
twiygul@itawamba.k12.ms.us
(662) 862-3104

Be respectful, per Constance's request, but let 'em hear from you. Then join the Facebook group "Let Constance Take Her Girlfriend to Prom" by clicking here. Then make a tax-deductible donation to support Constance's ACLU LGBT Project team by clicking here.