Have you noticed how many stories recently refer to prom dates? What people are allowed to wear, whom they are allowed to take, what is allowed to be said, what kinds of dances are allowed, etc. Lots of social issues including gay/lesbian rights, free speech rights, sexual mores, and they are all being played out surrounding prom. Courts are getting involved. Newspapers and other media are involved. Has this always been true, or is this a recent phenomenon? I remember that when I was ready to go to prom, I deliberated between one girl who was black and one who was white, but my decision came down to which seemed more likely to say yes rather than color (interracial dating was a big issue in the 1970's -- by 2004, when my daughter went with a black prom date, it was televised nationally, but not an issue). Copyright © 2010 Genii Software Ltd.