Teen Girl Banned Bringing Girlfriend Prom

Skip navigation!

Ugh, prom. Just when we thought the institution couldn't possibly get any more sexist and discriminatory, a Florida high school told 17-year-old couple Paula Goodgame and Anjali Persad that they won't be allowed to attend together. But it's cool, it's not like the school waited until a week before prom to tell them or anything. Oh wait, no, that's exactly what the school did.

Goodgame tweeted this morning about the school's last-minute banning of her date, which came via email from her guidance counselor — with possibly the most incongruent smiley face emoticon ever?

A week before prom and i'm not allowed to take my girlfriend...it's not like we already bought what we were gonna wear or anything... pic.twitter.com/JwyQ9ZzpQS
— Paula Goodgame (@paula_goodgame) March 29, 2017

"I took the response as a huge surprise because of how rude it was," Goodgame told BuzzFeed. "Especially because it was coming from someone I'm supposed to confide in."

AdvertisementADVERTISEMENT

"If she can't go to my prom, then that prom is not worth going to," Goodgame said of Persad. "You're supposed to have that whole 'magical' night with someone special, ya know? It wouldn't be worth it without her."

It looks like Persad feels the same way. And so, apparently does most of Twitter; Goodgame's tweet quickly went viral, and plenty of friends and strangers alike tweeted their support of the couple and their outrage at the school.

With or without prom I will always love you til the end of time, my love? @paula_goodgame pic.twitter.com/GWLwhAO3nB
— anj (@anj_ovies) March 30, 2017

@paula_goodgame @anj_ovies Don't let them do that. You have rights.?️‍? pic.twitter.com/EbAIBtHmh7
— hannah? (@hannahmclainn) March 30, 2017

@paula_goodgame @anj_ovies petition that shit, raise a storm about it honey because they're taking away your rights pic.twitter.com/j4uuHNc0SG
— marisol (queer)oz (@marisolcarlee) March 30, 2017

Since Goodgame goes to a Catholic school, many tweeters were unsurprised at the homophobia, but Goodgame herself was blindsided.

"There are other gay people at the school, and a couple of the students there have gay parents. No one really expected this to come about, especially me and my friends," she told BuzzFeed. "My family and my best friend's family is Catholic and they're supportive of what I do because they believe in 'love thy neighbor' despite who that 'neighbor' is."

Plus, one astute tweet pointed out that even the Pope encourages inclusivity these days.

@RR_KTK @paula_goodgame @anj_ovies
“If someone is gay and searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?” - Pope Francis
— Exorcising Emily (@exorcisingemily) March 30, 2017

Others pointed out that the school guidance counselor could have used a copy editor.

1. They are a hella cute couple.
2. What kind of school sends out a message with a huge typo in it?!
3. Complete and utter bullshit. https://t.co/cDAarRXeeI
— Mo: Space Chicken (@Moreh_SC) March 30, 2017

But possibly the best piece of advice was that Goodgame and Persad should just fuck that school and go to prom anyway. Preferably in full Gentlemen Prefer Blondes sequined regalia.

@paula_goodgame @anj_ovies PAULA GIRL, YOU AND YOUR BOO BETTER STUNT ON THOSE HOMOPHOBES! Walk in there like; pic.twitter.com/3IZRIiDc9Y
— vale (@Ohvalll) March 30, 2017