Constance McMillen

Constance McMillen, a Mississippi teen who sued her school for canceling the prom rather than let her attend with her girlfriend, will be the subject of a made-for-TV movie.

Diane Morgan, spokeswoman for ABC Family, confirmed this week that the cable channel was developing a movie about the 18-year-old’s life but would not discuss details.

“It is a project that is in the very early stages at ABC Family,” Morgan said.

McMillen, made national headlines earlier this year when she sued the Itawamba County School District in northeast Mississippi after her high school principal refused to allow her to bring her girlfriend as her date to the school-sponsored prom. Her request to be allowed to wear a tuxedo to the dance was also denied.

Shortly after the lawsuit was filed, McMillen appeared on the “Ellen DeGeneres Show”, where she was presented her with a $30,000 college scholarship check.

Days later, U.S. District Judge Glen H. Davidson ruled in McMillen’s favor, saying her First Amendment rights were violated, but stopped short of ordering the school district to reinstate the prom.

Eventually, McMillen attended a senior prom in April 2, but claimed that she was sent to a “fake prom” while the rest of her class partied at a secret location at an event organized by parents behind her back. The prom she was invited to attracted only five other students.

In June, McMillen served as a grand marshal in the New York City Gay Pride, and in July, the school district settled the suit, agreeing to pay her $35,000 in damages plus attorneys fees but admitted no wrong-doing.

Ghost Whisperer creator John Gray has been tapped to write and direct the film, according to ABC Family.

Tags: ABC Family, Constance McMillen, LGBT Rights, LGBT Youth, Mississippi, Prom, Television

Filed under: Mississippi