Constance McMillen named one of Glamour magazine’s “Women of the Year 2010”

The teen lesbian who successfully challenged a rural Mississippi school district’s ban on same-sex prom dates was recently named one of Glamour magazine’s “Women of the Year 2010”. The main measure for honorees is that they help make the world a better place for others. Constance McMillen (18) told the AP that she became a bullying victim after she challenged the School District. The ACLU sued the district, which paid $35,000 to settle the lawsuit and also agreed to follow a non-discrimination policy. Glamour magazine recently honored McMillen for her fight against intolerance.

“We’ve seen such devastating proof this year of how tough it is for gay teens out there. To have someone like Constance stand up for who she is with dignity and pride, is a really meaningful thing for other young people to see. We respect her bravery and her example,” Cindi Leive, Glamour editor-in-chief said in an e-mail.

“It seems like gay students catch a lot. It’s already a rough time in high school. Everybody wants to be accepted,” McMillen said. “The family’s acceptance is 100 times more important than people they go to school with. Whenever their family doesn’t accept them, they feel like nobody’s going to.”