In March, Constance McMillen successfully sued her school for attempting to bar her from attending the prom with her female date. In a slick move that McMillen says “hurt my feelings,” Constance was sent to a "fake prom" while the rest of her class partied at a secret location at an event organized by parents.

McMillen told The Advocate that a parent-organized prom happened behind her back while she and her female date were sent to a Friday night event at a country club in Fulton, Miss., that attracted only five other students.

Two students with learning difficulties were among the seven people at the country club event, McMillen recalls. "They had the time of their lives. That's the one good thing that come out of this, [these kids] didn't have to worry about people making fun of them [at their prom]."

In March, after the Itawamba County School District in Mississipi refused to allow McMillen to bring a female date to the prom, the district canceled the event altogether. A judge ruled the move was illegal but declined to force the school district to hold the prom because a parent-sponsored, private prom was being organized — and the understanding was that McMillen and her date were invited to that event. But McMillen was never invited and organizers made it very difficult for her to find information on the time and location.

What can you do?

Are you or a friend being barred from bring a date of the same sex to your prom or dance? You have the right to bring a same-sex date to the prom. We love it that you refuse to be excluded from this celebration but there are a few things you should consider before making that big decision. Check them out here.