Tom Hawkins

Mr. Hawkins is the school principal of James Madison Highschool/Edgewater Highschool and Emma's ally.

Mr. Hawkins informs Emma that he has spoken to the state attorney and that he believes they have a chance to reinstate the prom. Emma and Mr. Hawkins begin to make progress.

Mr. Hawkins and Dee Dee go to Applebee's to celebrate that the state attorney ruled that the school must hold a prom.

Mr. Hawkins reveals that the PTA put on another prom across town and this one just for Emma, as required by the state attorney.

Mr. Hawkins berates Dee Dee for being so self-centered. She performs his favorite song to make it up to him and vows to begin thinking of others.

Facts
He is the principal of James Madison high school.

He supports the LGBTQ+ community.

He is a big fan of Dee Dee Allen.

He is black.

He is straight.

He saw Swallow the Moon.

He has the album of Swallow the Moon.

He saves up all his money to go to New York every summer and sees as many Broadway shows as he can.

He's seen Dee Dee many times on Broadway.

He was single.

He never liked Eddie Sharpe's show.

Quotes
"First thing I’m going to do is contact the Indiana State’s Attorney. This isn’t about school rules; this is a civil rights case."

"I’m betting pressure from the State’s Attorney will stop them cold. It better, because I’ll tell you this much: if word gets out, people are gonna get mad."

"Next thing you know, some modern day Eleanor Roosevelt is going to march down here and all hell is going to break loose."

"Okay. I just got off the phone with the State’s Attorney. Like I suspected, she thinks this is a civil rights issue. This is a big deal, Emma."

"The State’s Attorney wants us to hold an inclusive prom, yes, because that’s what they feel best reflects America’s values."

"Just to be clear, this is America."

"Again, it’s not a homosexual prom; it’s an inclusive prom and you don’t have to attend if you don’t want to."

"Look I’m sorry you’re upset, but the organization of the prom is within the purview of the Student Council. Let’s hear what they have to say. Alyssa?"

"But you can’t [go to prom]. Because some of the parents in this room are homophobic. That’s what this is about. And that’s why the courts are involved. Now I know the unfamiliar can be frightening, but the fact is a young girl at this school - an honor student - stood up and asked us all to take a closer look at our beliefs. So, let’s do that. Ask yourself exactly what is it that you find so frightening about homosexuals?"

"Oh, it’s not a nightmare. You can wake up from a nightmare. I’ve got to go deal with the riot in the parking lot."

"...thanks to pressure from the State’s Attorney’s office, Prom is back on."

"I save up all my money and I go to New York every summer. I see as many Broadway shows as I can. When I run out of money, I second act ‘em."

"...a distraction is momentary. An escape helps you heal."

"If you want people to like you instead of hate you, you have to be good. A good person. You have to put other people’s interests before your own."

"Well, it looks like you don’t represent the beliefs of everyone in our community."