The Westboro Baptist Church has announced it will picket the Saturday graduation of Constance McMillen, the Mississippi lesbian student who sued her school district for refusing to allow her to attend prom with her girlfriend.

McMillen sued the Itawamba County School District after it decided to cancel the Itawamba Agricultural High School (IAHS) prom dance for junior and senior students rather than allow McMillen to attend with her girlfriend and wear a tuxedo.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which represented the 18-year-old in court, claimed victory in a March ruling by US District Judge Glen H. Davidson. Davidson agreed that the Fulton, Mississippi school had violated McMillen's rights, but refused to force the school to hold the event.

“WBC will picket the graduation of Itawamba Agricultural High School to remind the parents, teachers and students of this nation that God said 'Thou shall not lie with mankind, as with womankind, it is abomination,'” the church said in announcing the protest.

“This generation has been raised to believe that they can live for the devil and still go to heaven, that God has no standards and the biggest lie of all – that God loves everyone.”

“The parents of Fulton, MS feign outrage that a filthy dyke wants to parade her 'girlfriend' around at their night of fornication called a prom,” the church added. “They had a duty to teach their children what the Lord requires of them. They shirked this duty.”

McMillen's gay rights fight attracted national headlines.

Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres thanked McMillen for standing up for everyone's rights and presented her with a $30,000 college scholarship during an appearance on Ellen.

“I admire you so much,” the openly lesbian DeGeneres said. “When I was your age I never would have had the strength to do what you are doing.”

Producers of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) Media Awards arranged for the teen to present openly gay actress-comedian Wanda Sykes with a gay rights advocacy award at the 21st Annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles.

The Topeka, Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church is made up mostly of family members who believe it is sinful not to speak out against being gay.

A counter demonstration is also being planned, according to the Facebook group Itawambians That Detest Westboro Baptist Church.

The graduation will take place at the Itawamba Community College. Protesters – and counter protesters – are expected to face off outside the building between 3PM – 4PM.

UPDATE: The Associated Press is reporting that McMillen no longer is a student IAHS and is scheduled to graduate on June 2.