Petition Launched At Middletown Catholic School To Allow Same-Sex Prom Dates

MIDDLETOWN, CT — An online petition on Change.org is calling on Middletown's Mercy High School, an all-girl Catholic school, to allow students to bring a same-sex partner to prom.

As of this morning, March 8, "Let Girls Take Girls to Prom" had garnered more than 1,800 signatures toward a goal of 2,500. The petition was started by an anonymous Mercy High student.

"You don’t have to be dating the person to bring them and have fun," the petition states. "There is no valid reason or explanation as to why students are not allowed to bring a friend of the same sex to Prom. The only clear reason is that the school does not want girls to bring their significant other if they are also female.

"Now, I understand that the concept of homosexuality has long been a controversial issue in the Roman Catholic Church. However, not allowing a student to bring a female date because the school is scared that they are a gay couple is disrespectful and discriminates unfairly based on a biased opinion."

Sister Mary A. McCarthy, President of Mercy High School, told the Middletown Press in a statement that the school follows the traditional teachings of the Catholic faith, and while students can attend prom alone, their dates are expected to be male.

Click here to view the petition on Change.org, and click here to read the full story on the Middletown Press website.