When Will Derrick Martin’s Gay Prom Date No Longer Be News?

 I am very glad about the decision in a Georgia school to allow Derrick Martin to take his gay date to the prom.  That is unlike the shameful prom decision in Mississippi where a gay couple was denied the right to attend their big event.  But I am  also mindful over why we even have a fuss about these matters in the first place.  Let high school students take whichever other high school student they wish to the prom!  This is 2010, but one would think we are still stuck in the time of the Tudors.  I am proud of Derrick Martin for taking a stand in a small Georgia town.  While we can only feel good about the stand he is taking, I think it a shame he has to go through all that he is now encountering just to be himself and achieve the same level of rights and dignity that most of the other students at the prom will take for granted. 

Derrick Martin still worries that he could be responsible for getting this year’s prom at Bleckley County High School canceled.

That’s because the 18-year-old senior is gay, and he plans to take his boyfriend to the year’s most anticipated dance. That’s something that’s never happened in this small Middle Georgia town.

 Derrick Martin (Photo used from The Stranger Slog)

A similar plan by two female students in Mississippi earlier this month prompted school officials there to cancel the dance, making national news.

After asking Bleckley County school officials permission in January to take another boy to the prom, Martin got word last week that his high school will allow it. Bleckley’s prom is April 17 in the high school cafeteria.

“I didn’t expect them to say yes. It’s who I am. I have the same rights,” he said. “It’s my senior prom and I wanted to be able to prove not everyone would cancel prom.”

Martin is an honor student who tutors at-risk elementary and middle school students after school. He also has a full scholarship to college. He said he knew the move would be controversial for the town of about 5,200 residents.

At his high school, prom dates from outside counties must be approved in advance, so Martin went to his principal and asked.

“At first she said no, Cochran wasn’t ready for it,” he said.

But then last week, school officials said they have no policy in place against it.

“You don’t have the right to say no,” principal Michelle Masters said. “As a principal, I don’t judge him. I’m taught not to judge. I have to push my own beliefs to the background.”

She’s just hoping it won’t become an issue in the community and distract from juniors and seniors who’ve looked forward to the event for a long time.

As fellow senior Errin Lucas put it, “Have you seen Cochran? There is nothing else to live for.”

Charlotte Pipkin, the superintendent of schools, said the school board didn’t take any votes on Martin’s request, but the board did discuss it during a board meeting.

“Students are allowed to bring their date to prom,” Pipkin said. “There’s nothing that says who the date is.

“I want this to be an enjoyable event, and I don’t want anything to take away from that,” she added.

Martin came out as gay during his sophomore year in high school, but even now he said not all his classmates are tolerant.

He worries about the attention that the prom “walk through,” in which the school announces each senior’s name and the date’s name, will draw attention to him and his date.

“I’ll take out insurance on my tux,” he said, half-jokingly.

It’s a big step for the high school, Lucas said.

“With our town being so small and country, it’s a very big thing,” she said. “It’s unexpected, but I’m glad. We have to move forward.”

The Cochran community said it’s surprising.

“I think a lot of people will stare,” said Miranda Taylor, an employee at a Wendy’s restaurant.

Security will be on hand at the dance, school officials said.

Even if there is backlash, both educators said they won’t cancel or change their plans for prom. It would not be fair to the students, Pipkin said.

Martin said he could have settled for what he did last prom and just go with a friend, a female, but he didn’t want to do that this year.

“It’s standing up for the rights thing, especially after the Mississippi canceled prom,” he said. “It’s senior prom. It’s pretty big.”