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Hope Decker And Tiffany Wright, Same Sex Couple, Barred From Entering High School Prom (VIDEO)

The Huffington Post  |  By Posted: Updated: 05/14/2012 11:26 pm

Hope Decker and Tiffany Wright, a same-sex couple at Lexington Catholic High School in Lexington, Ky., were barred from attending the school's prom because their relationship violated the Catholic church's position on homosexuality, the Herald-Leader reports.

Decker, 18, and Wright, 16, were told by school officials they could not attend the school event, despite having already purchased their dresses, because of the nature of their relationship.

"As a Catholic high school, we uphold every teaching of the Catholic Church," Lexington Catholic High School President Steve Angelucci told the Herald-Leader in an email. "The policies and procedures of our school reflect those teachings."

But Decker told LEX 18 that she believes the couple's treatment was based on more than just school rules.

"What I experienced in the Dean's Office was blatant homophobia," Decker told the station.

Wright told the station that, while they were upset at first, they soon decided to take action.

"I mean, we both cried and then I was like, this is ridiculous," Wright said. "There's gotta be something we could do about this."

So, instead of going home, the couple and their friends held their own prom in the school's parking lot with the help of some car stereos for music, WLKY reports.

Watch the video report above for more on this story.

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Hope Decker and Tiffany Wright, a same-sex couple at Lexington Catholic High School in Lexington, Ky., were barred from attending the school's prom because their relationship violated the Catholic chu...
Hope Decker and Tiffany Wright, a same-sex couple at Lexington Catholic High School in Lexington, Ky., were barred from attending the school's prom because their relationship violated the Catholic chu...
 
 
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02:57 PM on 08/13/2012
Why I never felt Catholic even though I went to Catholic Schools? I was treated as an outcast. Now I can say that I am happy being the Atheist Lesbian that I am.
06:38 AM on 07/29/2012
christ the kings priest brother likes lsd, sure thats in the bible
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03:26 AM on 06/19/2012
Poor girls. Listen up! MOVE AWAY ASAP. It's the only cure for what ails you.

As for ""As a Catholic high school, we uphold every teaching of the Catholic Church,"..... HA. I've yet to see a catholic uphold EVERY teaching of their church. Just the ones they feel like. As with any religion.
08:55 PM on 05/25/2012
That is completely unfair-this is discrimination as well as a sort of segregation-wait, didn't we have segregation laws repealed? Yes, we did, and I hope that that schools is sued in some sort of way. Those women deserve to be with each other, and more importantly, be happy.
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Tilly Webster
Blessed be
03:04 PM on 05/27/2012
Unfortunately, this is not true. Well, sort of. It is discrimination. It is also a private school, owned and operated not by the taxpayers, but by the Catholic church. Therefore, they set the rules. If the student does not agree with those rules, her ONLY option is to find another school. Her parents probably pay the tuition, so they also have a say, but she could certainly attend public schools, in which case, taxpayer dollars do fund the school and discrimination/segregation is illegal. As a lesbian and one who is four-square in favor of equality in marriage and every other aspect of our society, I will never insist that any preacher or teacher in a CHURCH be forced to ignore their spiritual or religious views. To do so makes us absolutely no better than those who want to force their religion on the secular society around them.
11:05 AM on 05/28/2012
Yes, you are right, but one thing we can agree on is that this is wrong.
04:43 PM on 07/02/2012
What about members of the church who believe that the church shouldn't discriminate against the LGBTQ population?
07:15 PM on 05/20/2012
This high school is known for being very, very conservative. The fact that the girls acted surprised is a total act. I'm not endorsing the school barring them by any means but they knew they would not be allowed without even having to ask. This is basically a publicity stunt to illustrate the schools obviously wrong position.
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Earthling1125
Respect Nature - we are lost without her
03:07 PM on 08/09/2012
The only way to enlighten the world is to shine light upon its darkest corners.

These girls did what needed to be done.
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JDuck
Until we know the equal we'll never feel the free.
01:33 AM on 05/19/2012
"As a Catholic high school, we uphold every teaching of the Catholic Church,"

And we all know homophobia is a virtue.
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Tilly Webster
Blessed be
03:07 PM on 05/27/2012
It doesn't matter that homophobia is (or is not) a virtue. The school is a church and therefore is going to operate under the standards set forth by their leadership... all the way to the Vatican. And, as an American who believes in freedom of religion and separation of church and state, I defend the school's right to do just that. If the school in question were a public school, then that is an entirely different issue. But I can't stand on a soapbox to say that the religious right has no place in my government, marriage or bed then turn around and say that they *must* allow homosexuality to be out and proud in their own 'hallowed' halls. I am a lesbian, but I am not now, nor have I ever been, a hypocrite,
04:10 PM on 05/18/2012
Isn't it interesting how people in this country, which was at it's base founded on freedom from religious persecution, is now using religion to persecute freedoms? Go religion.
08:42 AM on 07/26/2012
oh how right and I mean RIGHT they are
11:52 PM on 05/17/2012
Leave those poor girls be. All they to do is dance, dance, and make romance.
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Alexander Forbes
OBAMA2012
07:17 PM on 05/17/2012
Cartoonist Tom Batiuk is doing a same-sex high school prom series right now in his venerable strip "Funky Winkerbean." Rock on Batiuk!
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stopnlisten
Simplify, simplify!
03:13 PM on 05/17/2012
Jesus would have let them in and sat with them!
03:59 PM on 05/18/2012
Win!!
08:56 PM on 05/25/2012
Amen! You are 100% right.
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11:22 AM on 05/17/2012
There's a difference between upholding the teachings and discrimination.
08:56 PM on 05/25/2012
Precisely!
10:11 AM on 05/17/2012
If the school did hold ALL the ideals of the church......why are THEY judging??? According to church law...that's gods job....not theirs
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freeSpeakr
I stand on the shoulders of giants
12:25 PM on 05/16/2012
Hope Decker And Tiffany Wright, Same Sex Couple, Barred From Entering High School Prom

That's what Jesus would do.
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JDuck
Until we know the equal we'll never feel the free.
01:34 AM on 05/19/2012
Jesus is a homophobe?

Who knew.
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Earthling1125
Respect Nature - we are lost without her
03:09 PM on 08/09/2012
Oops! Typo! You forgot the "not" between "That's" and "Jesus". Your bad.
09:44 AM on 05/16/2012
It's a wonder why there are not posters in here calling for the 18 yr old to be brought up on charges, and have to register as a sex offender. Were they together when the 1 was 15?
noahmarder
Exposing the regressive lies, one by one
03:56 PM on 05/16/2012
The other student was 16, and it is common for states to allow relationships between an adult and a minor if the age difference is two years or less.

Also, she wouldn't be charged unless there was PROOF that a s e x u a l act had occurred.
04:32 PM on 05/16/2012
I don't know what it is in Kentucky, but where I live (and in most states), age of consent is 16, which is how old the younger girl is. And anyway, it's only illegal to have sex, not to date.

I guarantee you about half of the seniors' dates were about 16. It's pretty normal.
01:56 AM on 05/16/2012
I went to my grad with two girls because I didn't want to be paired up with the guys in our school. they didn't question it one bit.
evecaren
Every cloud has a silver lining
10:12 AM on 05/16/2012
Nothing wrong with three girls going together to your prom. I bet the three of you
had a lot of fun and isn't that what's most important.
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Fenrir Lokison
I luv the sci fi of Evolution and the Big Bang
12:03 PM on 05/16/2012
There is a difference between showing up and showing up saying they or one of them were your romantic interest.
02:27 PM on 05/16/2012
We had to put our names on a list, basically registering so we could attend, and nobody questioned it. they were also forced to put two guys together. I had people joke that my girls and I were interested in each other and we just smiled. I am not a lesbian but I couldn't let something like that dampen my graduation. We all had a great time. Even if there is a same sex couple attending a dance it shouldn't be that bad they don't have to make out with each other. Point is, we are still trying to control what people can and cannot do; it's wrong. These girls just wanted to have a good time.
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Tanya OaksBrooks
Sarcastic, left-wing, science-loving rocker chick
02:49 PM on 05/16/2012
And that difference is...? The only difference is that you have some kind of weird hang-up about the latter. It's none of your business either way.