Jezebel: Prom

The Ten Worst Prom Stories We've Ever Heard

Dodai Stewart — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 17:17:00 EDT

When we asked for your awful prom stories, we expected to hear about drunken nights, stolen purses and dress mishaps. We did not expect tales of dead animals, kicking your date in the balls, getting handcuffed by state troopers or having pizza thrown at your face. There were so many cringe-inducing ways the supposed magical night turned into a nightmare,it was tough to narrow the entries down to just ten. But here they are, in all of their traumatizing glory. More »

Extreme Jersey Prom So Totally Ruined By No-Show Party Bus

Whitney Jefferson — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 19:15:00 EDT

Nightline ventured to Manalapan, New Jersey to document the extravagant prom parties and expensive dresses the town's high school has become known for. Here, girls purchase their dresses in October for a June prom and their parents drop upwards of $3,000 in hopes of ensuring a perfect night for their spawn. When the cameras arrived, a pre-prom party (full of 24 couples and their families) was in full swing — until, of course, tragedy struck: the party bus that was booked to transport the teens to their actual prom never showed up. Cue mom screaming into a cell phone! More »

Tell Us Your Awful Prom Stories

Dodai Stewart — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 16:07:00 EDT

As May ends and June begins, 'tis the season for American teenagers to get all dolled up and attend the final school dance before college. Prom. A magical night…that can turn into a nightmare. More »

Students Crown Special-Needs Classmates As Prom Queens & Kings

Tracie Egan Morrissey — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 17:25:00 EDT

When they're not sexting, trying to be like Ke$ha, or having babies on reality TV, teenage girls can actually be really sweet, mature, and decent human beings. Two different graduating classes of seniors in two different states have crowned classmates with Down Syndrome as prom queens and king. In Loveland, Ohio Toni Alten-Crowe—who has been mainstreamed since preschool—was voted prom queen alongside Drew Anderson, another senior with Down Syndrome, as prom king. Of the crowning, fellow student Lauren Tipton said, "Everyone was excited about the result…Usually [people] just vote for their friends. Drew and Toni are friends with everybody." More »

Teen Vandal Thinks Prom Incident Has Been Blown Way Out Of Proportion

Dodai Stewart — Mon, 16 May 2011 14:00:00 EDT

After vandalizing school property to ask a fellow senior if she'd go to the prom with him, James Tate was suspended and banned from the prom. Over the weekend, his school reversed the decision, and Tate is allowed to attend the event. However. On the Today show this morning, we learned Tate may suffer "alternate consequences." Mysterious! Tate says, "I think this has been blown completely out of proportion." He and his prom date, Sonali Rodrigues, looked mildly bemused but also rather tired of the hubbub. Or maybe they just have Senioritis. More »

Teen Banned From Prom For Adorable Vandalism

Anna North — Thu, 12 May 2011 11:15:00 EDT

Senior James Tate of Shelton High School in Connecticut posted a giant message on the front wall of his school reading, "Sonali Rodrigues will you go to prom with me? HMU [hit me up] — Tate." But grinchy Headmaster Beth Smith suspended him and banned him from prom for his gesture. More »

Pot Brownies Shut Down Prom

Anna North — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 12:52:00 EDT

Junior prom at North Andover High School in Massachusetts came to an abrupt end when four kids got sick from eating pot brownies. Officials are now investigating who brought the weed-laced treats. Says one parent, "It's embarrassing. This is a nice town." More »

High School Establishes Gender-Neutral Prom Court

Anna North — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 13:20:00 EST

After stripping a transgender student of his homecoming king title, a Michigan high school has reconsidered and instituted a gender-neutral prom court. More schools should follow suit. More »

Lesbian Teen Victoriously Settles With School Over Prom Snub

Anna North — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 12:44:00 EDT

Constance McMillen accepted a settlement from her school for barring her from the prom, and a promise that the school will end discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. It's a victory not just for gay teens, but teens everywhere. More »

Pride (In The Name Of Love)

Anna Holmes — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 09:10:00 EDT

[Washington, D.C., June 22. Image via AP]

Edward Cullen Is A Horrible Prom Date

Jessica Coen — Tue, 25 May 2010 19:40:00 EDT

I'm not saying it's fun to be the seventh wheel. It's just that a giant cardboard cutout of sparkle-face is a shitty date: He'll take up too much space in the limo and just ignore you all night anyhow. [FailBlog] More »

Does Prom Matter For Gay Teens?

Anna North — Tue, 25 May 2010 09:30:00 EDT

The Itawamba County School District has denied knowledge of a "decoy prom" set up for lesbian teen Constance McMillen, but one blogger questions the importance of prom within the larger spectrum of gay rights. More »

Caster Semenya Wins "Third World War" • Swimming Pools Closed Because Of Fecal Matter

Katy Kelleher — Thu, 20 May 2010 17:40:00 EDT

• Caster Semenya could return to races in less than a month, according to South Africa's sports minister. Last September, Makhenkesi Stofile declared there would be a "third World War" if Semenya was kept from competing because of her sex. More »

Drunk Girl Spends Prom Night Attacking Cops

Margaret Hartmann — Tue, 18 May 2010 09:40:34 EDT

On Saturday, Ohio student Jessica Halter was dragged out of her prom and arrested after drunkenly cursing out her principal, swinging a chair at cops and accidentally hitting herself, then spewing bloody spitballs. A night to remember, indeed! [TSG] More »

90-Year-Old Attends Her First Prom

Margaret Hartmann — Tue, 04 May 2010 09:40:00 EDT

Hasselteen Rumba of Missouri wasn't allowed to attend dances as a teen, so her grandson Ron Blalock took her to his prom. "I figured... she should come with me and enjoy herself," he said. Click to watch. More »

Prom Teen To Lead Gay Pride Parade

Katy Kelleher — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 09:30:00 EDT

After being banned from bringing her girlfriend to prom, and later seeing the event canceled over her inclusion, Constance McMillen will finally get to celebrate. She has been named the grand marshal of June's gay pride parade in NYC. [CityRoom] More »

Lesbian Teen Mocked By Classmates On Facebook

Anna North — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 14:30:45 EDT

After holding their decoy prom, Constance McMillen's classmates continue to belittle her on a Facebook page called "Constance quit yer cryin." Luckily her supporters are also logging their own messages, like: "Good for you for standing up for yourself!" [CBS] More »

Lesbian Teen Sent To Decoy Prom While Other Kids Party At Real One

Anna North — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 09:30:00 EDT

All the news had been good for Constance McMillen, who was supposed to bring her girlfriend to her school's privately sponsored prom on Friday. Except that prom was a decoy. More »

What About Prom, You Guys?! What About Prom!?

Hortense Smith — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 16:00:00 EDT

In honor of prom season, the folks at Seventeen have compiled a list of the 17 best prom scenes of all time. Conspicuously missing? This choreographed prom dance from She's All That. Oh, the 90s. [Seventeen] More »

Your Revealing Prom Dress Will Get You Paddled

Irin Carmon — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 10:00:54 EDT

Nothing below the breastbone, nor six inches above the knee. Violate that precept at senior prom in Oxford, Alabama, as about 25 students did this year, and your choice is suspension or paddling. Corporal punishment: Still legal in 20 states! More »

Lesbian Teen Will Go To Prom ... Kind Of

Anna North — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 19:20:00 EDT

Constance McMillen will be allowed to bring her girlfriend to the private prom organized after her school canceled theirs. Her school still claims it did the right thing, arguing that the promtroversy was "a no-win situation." [CBS/AP] More »

Trashy Prom Dresses Remain Flash Point In Ongoing Intergenerational War

Jenna Sauers — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 16:40:00 EDT

The New York Post is out to spread a message to teen girls: risqué prom dresses are cool, and will piss off your parents. More »

Gay Teen Can Go To Prom, But He Can't Go Home

Anna North — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:30:00 EDT

Derrick Martin, whose school (unlike Constance McMillen's) will allow him to take his boyfriend to prom, has been kicked out of the house by his parents "because of the media attention." They could learn something from Constance's awesome granny. [Macon.com] More »

Judge Acknowledges Discrimination, But Won't Reinstate Prom

Anna North — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 09:30:00 EDT

Constance McMillen's prom won't be reinstated — but her case has already inspired another school to open its prom to gay students. Will others follow suit? More »

Lesbian Teen's School Claims It Was "Hounded"

Anna North — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 17:30:00 EDT

School officials claim they were thinking of canceling prom even before Constance McMillen asked to bring her girlfriend, but that her request sealed their decision because "We were being hounded every day." There's an easy fix for that, guys. [AP] More »

Gay Teen Banned From Prom Scores Support & Big Check From Ellen

Dodai Stewart — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:20:00 EDT

Eighteen-year-old Constance McMillen — whose school in Mississippi canceled the prom instead of allowing her to bring her girlfriend — already has the ACLU and Roger Ebert offering words of support. Today, she was on Ellen. More »

Zac Posen Claims Target Collection Inspired By "Lesbian Proms"

Anna North — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:40:00 EDT

A hearing has been set for gay teen Constance McMillen's suit to get her school to reinstate her prom, and Zac Posen is capitalizing on her fame by claiming his new collection for Target is great for lesbian prom dates. More »

"I'm Fighting For Prom For Everybody Now": Teen Calls Out School On National TV

Anna North — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:00:00 EST

Constance McMillen, whose school canceled its prom when she asked to bring her girlfriend, appeared on MSNBC today, and CBS, and CNN. Her rising public profile has brought more support — and criticism. More »

Would-Be Lesbian Prom Date Has Friends In ACLU, Roger Ebert

Anna North — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:00:00 EST

The Mississippi student whose prom was canceled in response to her request to bring her girlfriend is back at school today. She's gotten some dirty looks, but also support — from none other than Roger Ebert! More »

Homophobia: Start 'Em Young

Katy Kelleher — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:20:00 EST

A high school in Mississippi has decided to cancel prom rather than allow a lesbian student to A. Wear a tuxedo and B. Bring her girlfriend. School district policy requires that students bring a date of the opposite sex. [CBS] More »

Hideous Dresses & Possible Deflowering: Seventeen Goes To The Prom

Margaret Hartmann — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 14:20:00 EST

Seventeen Goes To The Prom" alt="Click here to read Hideous Dresses & Possible Deflowering: Seventeen Goes To The Prom" src="http://cache.jezebel.com/assets/images/39/2012/02/small_c49a17c41dc4ba507796a3587defb005.jpg"/>

Was your prom dress ugly and embarrassing? Judging from Seventeen Prom, girls today have it even worse. Maybe teens don't mind wearing grotesque gowns anyhow — judging from the advertising, prom is really about what happens when the dress comes off. More »

Living Dolls

Dodai Stewart — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 11:40:00 EDT

In an epic prom stunt, Sammy Burns and Megan Barton, both 16, were wheeled to the venue in Barbie boxes. It was hot, so the ladies had fans and bottles of water; but apparently Ken was a no-show. [Daily Mail] More »

SoCal School Elects Gay Male Prom Queen

Margaret Hartmann — Thu, 28 May 2009 11:20:00 EDT

Meet Sergio Garcia, prom queen for Fairfax High School in L.A. Classmates reportedly voted for him to support the gay community, but some said he should've been prom king. "I'll be wearing a suit, but don't be fooled, deep down inside, I am a queen!," responded Garcia. [L.A. Times] More »

When "Tradition" Destroys Progress

Hortense Smith — Sat, 23 May 2009 13:30:00 EDT

The New York Times ran an incredibly frustrating, heartbreaking piece about a segregated prom in Georgia today, which included an audio slide show wherein students and parents voice their opinions on the segregation and "tradition." More »

Prom Dreams Undimmed By Recession

Anna North — Tue, 05 May 2009 11:40:00 EDT

Another permutation on the lipstick effect? Prom dresses are selling well in the recession. It's not just girls: a Florida shop owner said boys are spending more on tuxes than last year. [New York Times] More »

Activists Crushed In Cube For Women's Rights • Mothers Arrested For Trying To Birth Baby Hitlers

Katy Kelleher — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 18:30:00 EDT

• Last Sunday an art installation featuring 20 female performers inside a Plexiglas cube was set up outside St. Mark's Church. The piece is designed to raise awareness about women's issues in North Korea. • More »

Scary Tales

Megan Carpentier — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 10:45:00 EDT

Two FBI employees have been charged with using surveillance equipment to spy on West Virginia teens trying on donated prom gowns as part of Hospice Care's Cinderella Project. Prince Charmings? Not. [Associated Press] More »

The Curious Case Of The Labia Prom Dress

Hortense Smith — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 16:30:00 EDT

The internet is currently buzzing about this prom dress, which was recently featured on "Light In The Box," a site offering various prom dresses to teenage girls. But I think the internet is overreacting here. More »

Prom Dress Charity In South Central Feeling Recession's Pinch

TatianaTheAnonymousModel — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 13:30:00 EDT

An L.A. organization that matches underprivileged girls with surplus designer dresses and shoes just in time for prom is facing the twin problems of increasing need and decreasing donations this spring. More »

17 Year Old Girl Sues, Changes School Policy, And Will Wear Her Tuxedo To Prom

Hortense Smith — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 14:30:00 EDT

A 17-year-old lesbian in Lebanon, Indiana was all set to go to prom until her principal informed her that the dress code restricted girls from wearing tuxedos, forcing them to wear gowns instead. More »