Laura Murphy, a senior at Villa Maria Academy in Buffalo, New York, wants to bring her girlfriend to her prom, but officials of the all-girl Catholic school say she only has two options: bring a male date or attend the prom alone.

A deputy legal director of the national Lambda Legal group says students have First Amendments rights of free expression to protect them in public schools. Villa Maria Academy is private.

Lambda Legal this year is publishing a prom season guide to inform same-sex couples of their legal rights.

Murphy and her girlfriend attended a semiformal dance at the school in December without incident.

Murphy says, quote, “It’s something special, and I want to share it with someone special. I don’t want to take a guy I don’t really care about.”