The parents of 18-year-old Derrick
Martin, the Georgia student who fought to bring his boyfriend to the
prom, have kicked him out of the house, the Macon, Georgia-based
website macon.com reported.
Martin requested approval to bring his
same-sex date to the April 17 prom dance in January. Bleckley County
High School requires approval in advance for bringing a prom date
that is not a student enrolled in the county.
The school's decision to allow Martin
to bring his boyfriend to the prom and the ensuing media attention
resulted in Martin's ouster from his house. He is reportedly staying
with a friend.
Support for the teen has swelled since
the story broke. The Facebook page “We
support Derrick Martin taking his boyfriend to the prom” has
attracted 1,525 members since yesterday. And offers ranging from
renting Martin and his boyfriend a limo to buying the pair dinner on
prom night have also flooded in.
“I appreciate it,” Martin said. “I
was speechless that they said they would buy me dinner or buy me a
tux in case someone messed mine up.”
Martin's story comes on the heels of a
Fulton, Mississippi high school decision to cancel its annual prom
dance rather than allow an openly lesbian student to bring her
girlfriend.
With the help of the ACLU, 18-year-old
Constance McMillen is suing the school board. But while a federal
judge has sided with the teen, he
has also refused to force the school to hold its annual prom.
The case is expected to go to trial.
Bleckley County High School principal
Michelle Masters said there is no school policy that prohibits a
student from bringing a same-sex date to the annual dance.