A father-daughter dance was banned in a Rhode Island school district after the American Civil Liberties Union brought a suit against the district, claiming the dance was discriminatory. The ACLU actually forced the decision in Cranston, R.I., several months ago; but the controversy only drew national attention when state senatorial candidate Sean Gately announced that if elected, he’d enact laws that would allow father-daughter dances. The ACLU was unmoved by the controversy. “[Parent-teacher groups] remain free to hold family dances and other events, but the time has long passed for public school resources to encourage stereotyping from the days of Ozzie and Harriet. Not every girl today is interested in growing up to be Cinderella—not even in Cranston,” the organization said in a statement. “In fact, one of them might make a great major league baseball player someday.” (Los Angeles Times)