Ind. Town Wants 'Traditional' Prom—Sans Gays

An Indiana town is abuzz over a plan to hold a competing prom with a "traditional" theme—ie, one in which gay students are banned. As NBC 2 reports, a group of Sullivan High School students and parents, as well as at least one teacher, are pushing their idea in the hopes that others will join in. "If we can get a good prom then we can convince more people to come and follow what they believe," says one student. "We don't agree with [homosexuality] and it's offensive to us," adds Sullivan special ed teacher Diana Medley. When asked if she thought gay people have a purpose in life, Medley continued, "No, I honestly don't. Sorry, but I don't. I don't understand it."

The movement got support from one local pastor, who said, "Christians have always been prepared for a fight. Jesus gave us armor for the front, not the back; we're not running anymore." But not everyone is grabbing their pitchforks: Gawker notes that a counter-campaign has sprung up among students who want everybody at prom, with one gay student posting the following: "I absolutely hate how my town is getting called Anti-Gay Bigots because a few 'Christians' are planning a separate prom! Not all of Sullivan is like that." (More Indiana stories.)