By Julie Hubbard, The Macon TelegraphMarch 23, 2010
COCHRAN — 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.
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.”
UPDATE:"Gay-rights Backers Reach Out to Bleckley Senior"
By Julie Hubbard, The Macon Telegraph
March 24, 2010
Gay-rights supporters from across the country are offering to buy everything from boutonnieres to dinner for a Bleckley County High School senior who was granted permission to take his boyfriend to the prom.
At least two supporters have offered to rent a stretch limo for Derrick Martin and his boyfriend.
Martin asked his principal this year if he could take another male to his senior prom, set for April 17.
At first school officials told the 18-year-old that the town of Cochran, with a population of 5,200, wasn’t ready for it.
The high school only had a policy that barred bringing a date older than the age of 21, so school officials subsequently told Martin they granted his request.
Many gay-rights activists are now posting the story on their Facebook pages. And an Atlanta filmmaker said he hopes to document the story.
“I sent flowers to his high school,” said Randi Reitan, a resident of Eden Prairie, Minn., who sent a bouquet of yellow flowers with a rainbow-colored balloon to Bleckley County High on Tuesday to show her support.
“We have a gay son. I wish he could’ve danced with a young man at his prom,” Reitan said.
She also has offered to buy Martin and his date, who is from Tift County, boutonnieres to wear on prom night.
Drew Dowdell from Pittsburgh is setting up a link on his Web site for people to leave donations for Martin to help buy the 18-year-old a limo ride to the prom.
“I want to help Derrick have the best prom he can because I worry that anti-gay people in his school will be doing their best to ruin it for him,” Dowdell said. “I’m proud that he was willing to go to the school to make an issue about it.”
Martin said he got 54 messages Tuesday on Facebook.
“I appreciate it,” he said. “I was speechless that they said they would buy me dinner or buy me a tux in case someone messed mine up.”
But because of the media attention, Martin’s parents have kicked him out and the teen is staying with a friend, he said.
Martin said he pushed to take his boyfriend to the dance after hearing about a girl in Mississippi who asked to take her girlfriend to the prom.
Her school eventually canceled the dance rather than allow them to attend together.
“Maybe (other gay students) will think if Bleckley County will let them, maybe my school will,” Martin said.
School Superintendent Charlotte Pipkin said the move is a first for Bleckley County.
“I’m not aware of it having happened in the past,” she said.
School officials have said they have no plans to cancel or change plans for the prom.
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