RI Senate to hear bill to save father-daughter dance

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A Rhode Island Senate committee is taking up a bill aimed at saving events like a father-daughter school dance that was canceled over concerns that gender-specific events violate state anti-discrimination laws.

The Senate Education Committee has scheduled a Wednesday hearing on state Sen. Hanna Gallo's legislation. The bill would allow schools to provide activities specifically for students of one gender as long as similar activities are open to students of the opposite gender.

School officials in Cranston canceled the father-daughter dance last year after the state affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union filed a complaint on behalf of a single mother whose daughter could not attend.

Cranston's school committee later asked the General Assembly to change the law to allow the activities.

Cox Media Group