• A lesbian couple was voted "cutest couple" for this year's Murray High School yearbook.

• Copper Hills High School principal Tom Worlton opted last fall to require permission slips for same-sex couples to attend dances but later retracted that decision.

• Students at Hillcrest contacted the ACLU and protested last spring when they weren't allowed to wear "Queers Kick Ash" T-shirts as part of an anti-smoking campaign.

Olsen said he wanted to go to his school's prom because "I am a senior, and it is my school.

Hill said many of his students probably disagree philosophically with Olsen's sexual orientation but they are "pretty tolerant."

"I think we've educated our students. For the most part, they know they can't make direct statements," he said. "I think we have a population that's more tolerant than ever in the past. On the other hand, we have those that are just intolerant. . . . We don't tolerate harassment of any kind."

The Deseret Morning News was denied access to the prom. However, some Bountiful students on their way in acknowledged Olsen's right to go but said they'd prefer it if he stayed away. Some said they thought he was just trying to make a point. "I think it makes the rest of us a little uncomfortable," said Steven Gould.

Other students said they were fine with same-sex couples at their prom.

"I think it's cool if he's going to come and not be embarrassed," said Lara Hamrick, a Hunter High School sophomore who attended the Bountiful dance.

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E-mail: dbulkeley@desnews.com