Gay Prom Ban May Go To Court
by Jan Prout
365Gay.com Newscenter in Toronto

(March 27, Toronto) A gay high school student in the Toronto suburb of Oshawa says he's preparing to go to court to force a Roman Catholic school board to back down on its ban on gay prom dates.

17 year old Mac Hall met with legal advisors Tuesday.

The teen was told by the principal of Monsignor John Pereyma Catholic Secondary School that condoning a same-sex date for the prom would contravene Catholic teachings on homosexuality and "school policies.''

Hall says he will do all it takes to go to the prom with his 21 year old boyfriend.

A meeting of the school board Monday night erupted into a shouting match when chair Mary Ann Martin refused to allow Hall to address the board.

Hall says unless the board reconsiders he is prepared to go to the Ontario Human Rights Commission.

The teenager, who has the backing of the powerful Canadian Autoworkers Union, and a large number of his grade 12 classmates, said the board's position is not only discriminatory, it contradicts its own policy.

Hall said that it despite the church's opposition to premarital sex. the school allowed a pregnant teen to attend last year's prom.

"I will not be silenced, I will not give up," Hall said.