...and she's not gay!

http://www.cnn.com/2003/EDUCATION/11/23/sc...s.ap/index.html

BIG PINEY, Wyoming (AP) -- A straight teenager is challenging a school district policy that bars students from bringing same-sex dates to school dances.

In September, Amanda Blair tried to defy the rule by taking another young woman to the homecoming dance at Big Piney High School. They were kept out by sheriff's deputies at the request of school officials.

Blair, a senior at Big Piney, has now enlisted the help of the American Civil Liberties in formally calling on Sublette County School District No. 9 to lift the same-sex date ban.

Blair said her test of the policy is meant to help and support her peers who are homosexual.

"I think it would be a lot harder if I were a lesbian to do this for myself. I'm helping those who are."

Amanda Blair, you rock.

You go Girllll!!!!

You go Girllll!!!!

That is such a great story. I bet this girl has no idea how many people will be touched by her actions.

She rocks!!

good for her

we need more allies like her

Now I can't find a picture of this girl, but I think I met her a couple weeks ago at the CNN studio. If it is the same girl, she is stunningly gorgeous. You know the conservative moralists have got to be sh*tting themselves when an articulate, beautiful woman makes a cogent argument in support of gay rights. I mean, aren't all the pretty girls supposed to marry rich Republicans?

"Blair said her test of the policy is meant to help and support her peers who are homosexual." (from CNN article)

On the one hand I applaud her! Straight people demanding inclusivity for gays is a good thing!

On the other hand, she is NOT gay. Does she have 'standing' to challenge this policy?

That would be similar to me, as a male, challenging the Augusta Nationals policy in excluding women as members! Would that fly!? :confused:

To ironjohn8's question: YES!

As a man of color, I need white people to work with other white people to end racism; women absolutely need men to work with other men to end dating violence, domestic abuse, and sexual assault...

The efforts of "in-group" allies can powerfully compliment or reinforce the work done on the "outside." Some argue that it's most powerful for a straight dude to hear from another straight dude that the gay folk are people, too, damn it.

Not to beat this drum to death, but when I was working directly on issues of violence, I saw the mental gears turning and light bulbs going off for freshmen guys when an older fraternity guy or athlete made a point of supporting a gay issue or cause, or a woman's issue, or publicly checked someone for a racist statement.

I think it's a good idea that she's not gay. Why can't straight same-sex friends attend dances together if they want? Just because they're going to a dance doesn't mean they'll be dancing in the sheets later that night. Why should anyone assume otherwise?

I found out last night that here in Helena, they had a Winter Formal and anyone who wants to can attend. 2 guys I know (who are in high school, one straight, and one gay, both go to different schools, and neither go to the school that sponsered the event) went togeather to the formal.

The gay kid and his straight guy friend were slow dancing togeather and some jock kid came up and and said something like, can I cut in, and the gay kid grabbed his arm, looked him in the eye, and said, "if you wait for the next song." Then let him go. The jock kind of stumbled away in shock. That was the end of it, I guess.

I tell ya what, my town is pretty dang cool.

"As a man of color, I need white people to work with other white people to end racism;" (The B Man)

I agree. I applaud her efforts. However, she is challenging a 'policy' directed towards gays/lesbains. What harm would I claim, if I challenged Augusta's 'male only' policy?

"Why can't straight same-sex friends attend dances together if they want?" (Joe in Philly)

We are talking about a school dance. If two 'straight' females or males want to go to the dance together - fine! That's called going stag. When you go as a 'couple' that implies a greater degree of relationship!

I get tired sometimes by 'straight' people trivializing the us... see Madonna/Britney kiss... etc... There is more to our relationships than kissing, or showing up at a dance... its called bonding! wink On all levels!

First, not harm, but rather enlightment. It's easy to dismiss sexism as fallacies created by rabid, goofy, lesbian feminists.

Similarly, it's easy to dismiss homophobia and related anti-gay bias and prejudice as fallacies created by rabid, goofy, lesbian feminists.

So, to me, it's just as important to me that men DO take a stand on a "woman's issue" they believe in as it is for non-gay people to take a visible, principled stand on a "gay issue".

Homophobia hurts everyone.
Racism hurts everyone.
Sexism hurts everyone.

We all need to take action, then.

Well said, B Man.