Once barred from prom, Conn. student gets to go

SHELTON, Conn.

Shelton High School senior James Tate and his date, Sonali Rodriges, attended the prom Saturday, nearly a month after he was prohibited for posting his invitation to Rodrigues in 12-inch cardboard letters on the school wall.

School officials said his invitation was a safety risk and suspended him for a day and barred him from the prom. Headmaster Beth Smith later reversed the decision, acknowledging the international attention the case received.

Dressed in a three-piece, black tuxedo and a purple flower in his jacket pocket, Tate arrived at a pre-prom photo event followed by television cameras.

Rodrigues, dressed in a lavender prom dress, said her date was funny and "pretty cute."

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