If your school tells you that you can’t take a same-sex date to a dance, contact (or ask your parents or guardians to contact) your school principal and ask for the reasons for denial in writing.

If your school tells you that you need your parents’ permission to attend, ask the principal in writing (or ask your parent or guardian to do so) whether parental permission is required of all students. There is no legal justification for demanding permission because of sex or sexual orientation.

If you are harassed at the prom or dance, report it to officials, security personnel or other monitors/chaperones at the dance. Consider enlisting friends and allies to get on the dance floor with you to break the ice. After the event, report any incidents of harassment to the principal in writing.

If you are barred from entering or from dancing together, ask to speak with the person in charge of the event. Let them know that LGBTQ students have the same right as all other students, including to attend and to dance together. You may also tell your school principal in advance that you’re bringing a same-sex date and ask for a short note confirming that they are allowed to attend. Adult allies or students can also take along a copy of this Q&A for backup. (For more information about legal victories won on behalf of LGBTQ youth who wanted to attend prom with a same-sex date, click here and jump to "Proms, Dances and Dating"). If this advocacy fails, report the incident to the principal in writing.

If you continue to encounter obstacles, contact Lambda Legal’s Help Desk at 866-542-8336 or www.lambdalegal.org/help.