Today in (my home state) NY, same sex couples were able to get married legally for the first time and tonight on Lifetime’s Drop Dead Diva at 9p a girl will sue for the right to go to the prom with another girl. In this powerful episode that’s based on real life events. The episodes stars Constance McMillen, who was the teenager who sued her Mississippi high school to go the dance with her girlfriend. She is not alone in the special episode, along with her several other out actors will make an appearance throughout the show. Wanda Sykes, Amanda Bearse (Married…With Children), Lance Bass and Clay Aiken all took part in tonight’s show.
Clay spoke to several press members and told us he did this episode because it interested him. When the North Carolina native was asked if he thinks that homophobia is a problem in the South, he answered the question in an intellectual way. He said, “As someone who still lives here and, I man, I’m calling from Durham right now. I would argue that it may not be as much a regional issue as it is a national issue. I mean, obviously, no one would argue that there -you can argue that there are areas in the county where it might be a little bit easier, but I think that it is a national issue. It’s not necessarily just a southern thing. There are plenty of opportunities for us to say that, you know, homophobia exists in a certain religious environment more than it does in a secular environment. And while that may be true, it’s not necessarily the rule. I know plenty of Christians who are open-minded and equality loving and I know plenty of Southerners who are the same.” What he says is so true and hopefully an episode like this one will show us that discrimination like this needs to end not only in the South, but everywhere in the country.
On a lighter note, he also talked about going to his prom. He recalled, “I – did – oh God did I? I can’t even remember. You know what’s horribly sad, is that it’s been so long I can’t remember. I know I went to one of them. I’m pretty sure I went to either junior or senior, but I’m sure I went to the senior. But if you ask me who I went to – who I went with, I would honest to God not be able to tell you because I would not remember. Oh, no I do. Yes I did go. I do remember now. Oh, that took – that was a long process wasn’t it. I do remember, I remember going to my senior prom and I do remember who I took. Okay, we’re good.” He later admitted he went to the prom with a girl.
Teens should have the right to go to their senior dance with whomever they want, whether it is someone of the opposite sex or the same one. I know that Drop Dead Diva will do this topic right. So tune in to this powerful episode with an important message.
