Gay Prom Film Sparks Fears For Safety Of Teen


 

(Toronto, Ontario)  A teenager who won a legal battle to bring his boyfriend to a high school prom is under tight security amid concerns for his safety.

Marc Hall was told in 2002 by his principal that same-sex dates were not allowed at the prom being held by his Toronto area Catholic high school.

Hall went to court winning an injunction against the school board. The teen's courage and the vocal reaction by conservative religious groups across Canada resulted in the film Prom Queen scheduled for airing on national television across Canada June 1.

Publicity surrounding the telecast has resulted in an outpouring of hate messages, mainly on message boards of conservative religious groups.  

Earlier this week the Toronto production offices of the company which produced Prom Queen were broken into and vandalized after its address was published on another site.

The perpetrators ignored cash and valuable computer equipment but trashed the offices of Tapestry Films in what police describe as "extensive damage". The Toronto Police hate crimes unit is investigating.

Prom Queen executive producer and co-owner of Tapestry, Mary Young Leckie, said they have place a security detail with Hall, and Aaron Ashmore, the actor who portrays Hall in the film, fearing they may be targeted. 

"We're increasing the security around Marc, and making sure the people involved in this production are safe.

CTV which will air the film at 9 p.m. ET June 1 has refused to comment on what precautions it has taken.