Brody's Notes... Macon Georgia Gay Teen's Prom Goes Smoothly

Richard Goodman & Boyfriend Derrick Martin Arrive For Prom

Photo By Julie Hubbard The Macon Telegraph 

By Brody Levesque (Washington DC) Apr 19 | In an article published in yesterday's Macon Telegraph, staff writer Julie Hubbard reports that openly Gay Bleckley County High School senior Derrick Martin's prom went off without incident. According to Hubbard:

Bleckley County High School senior Derrick Martin made history Saturday when he arrived at his high school prom on the arm of another boy. He was the first in his hometown of Cochran — and perhaps in Georgia — to ask permission to take a same sex partner to prom and have his school allow it.

When Martin, 18, and his boyfriend Richard Goodman, also 18, stepped onto a makeshift “red carpet” and their names were announced, a few parents whispered but many in the crowd gave him a loud cheer. No one yelled out in protest.

“I wonder if they realize what they’ve done,” said Arturro Beeche, a San Francisco law professor & friend of the couple, who flew into Georgia on Friday and drove Martin and Goodman to the prom. “Once it happens in small-town America, it will inspire so many,” he said.

A few weeks back, a small group of students held an opposition rally in front of the town courthouse to protest. Martin’s parents also kicked him out of his home after the publicity.

But a rally in support of Martin was also held in a Macon park and supporters have donated more than $5,000 for college this fall.

“You have to do what you think is right,” Martin said the Friday while he and Goodman picked up their matching black and white tuxedos. “I was tired of being sneaky and hiding things.”

Goodman, a senior at Tift County High, said a few same sex couples have messaged him saying they would now ask to attend their proms together.

“Oh, and by the way we’re going to my prom May 8,” Goodman said to a surprised Martin.

Martin simply replied, “That’s your fight.”

Security was tight as Bleckley County sheriff's deputies closed all but one entrance to the high school and permitted only students, parents, and guests with tickets to enter Saturday evening for the school's prom.