Parents and students say it was heard all over Memorial High School Thursday that same sex couples would not be allowed into the prom.
The Port Arthur Independent School District is taking back that statement now.
Administrators say they were not aware an announcement had been made banning same-sex couples from the prom. 12 News HD spoke with PAISD Deputy Superintendent Mark Porterie, Ed. D. who says there's no cause for concern. Dr. Porterie says he's not sure how the ban on same sex couples from prom got into Thursday's announcements that are heard over the school intercoms., but he says it's not true.
One former student says the thought of banning same sex couples from prom is unbelievable.
"It's like segregating whites from blacks," says Eboni Pickett.
Pickett graduated from Memorial High School in 2007. That year, she brought her girlfriend to prom and says she certainly wasn't the only one.
"This has been going on at Memorial for a long time. So it's nothing new to the staff."
But what is new: broadcasting disapproval.
Parents and students say the announcement was made over the loudspeaker at Memorial High School, saying same sex couples won't be allowed to go to prom. Adriana Hudson says her son came home from school saying just that.
While she says she doesn't think same sex relationships are right, she thinks keeping students from prom would be wrong.
"Even though I'm against the same sex relationships they do have feelings too. They do have the right to go here and there," says Hudson.
Others think differently.
"I don't think people should be dating the same sex period," says Taurean Preston of Port Arthur.
The district sent this statement on the subject.
"The PAISD administration is aware of the statement that was made and will handle the situation with staff to ensure that no student is inappropriately prevented from participation in prom. The district will adhere to its responsibility to insure that no student is discriminated against on the basis of sexual orientation. it will adhere to its responsibility to insure that no student is discriminated against on the basis of sexual orientation."
Meanwhile, Pickett says, unfortunately, the ordeal has taken the focus off education.
The district says there is someone who approves announcements each day and somehow this one slipped through the cracks.
Dr. Porterie says the district is working to find out who approved this particular announcement.
When asked about whether the school is allowed to ban same-sex couples from prom. The district says its handbook mentions nothing about the issue because it has never come up before.
