OH Student Sues School For Not Allowing Him To Wear Pro-Gay Tee Shirt

[WillParkinson]

Today, Lambda Legal filed papers in a federal lawsuit against Waynesville High School in Waynesville, OH, after administrators threatened to suspend a student if he wore a tee shirt with the slogan “Jesus is Not A Homophobe.”

Maverick Couch, an openly gay junior at the school, first wore the shirt last spring in honor of National Day of Silence, when principal Randy Gebhardt told him to turn the shirt inside out (which Couch did). But after researching his First Amendment rights, Couch came back to Gebhardt in the fall and asked if he could wear the tee again. Gebhardt restated that he would be suspended if he did.

Lambda Legal is totally calling shenanigans on Gebhardt’s threat, especially considering the slogan is pretty pro-Christian:

“Schools should be in the business of educating students about First Amendment freedoms, not trampling on their right to express themselves,” said Christopher Clark, Senior Staff Attorney for Lambda Legal. “The school has not offered—and cannot offer—any legitimate reason for threatening Maverick with disciplinary action. They have singled-out an intelligent, respectful student and tried to shame him just because he’s gay.”


Full story here: http://www.queerty.com/oh-student-sues-school-for-not-allowing-him-to-wear-pro-gay-tee-shirt-20120403/#ixzz1r17o09Qt

[joeybee12]

1. KNR

[Ms. Toad]

2. We had that problem in our high school

A female friend of my daughter wore a shirt that said I love my boyfriend girlfriend.

She was put in in-school suspension. My daughter and about 20 of her friends decided to wear identical shirts in support of her.

I went to the superintendent and vice-principal, explained the law to them (which was actually created by family friends way back in the Vietnam era) and let the district know that they would have a lawsuit if they tried suspending my daughter for exercising her right to free speech.

On their own, the kids decided to make the point in a way that would not put them at odds with the administration - they all wore T-shirts emblazoned with "Free Speech" - except for my daughter's friend who wore her original T-shirt under another T-shirt and flashed people all day long.

I love our conservative little district (it really is). Despite being so conservative, my spouse and I were involved in our daughter's education from the first day of kindergarten. With the exception of this incident (not directed at her) she never had a bit of trouble for having lesbian parents (and 4 years after our daughter graduated, my spouse is still coaching mock trial and I'm still taking pictures of the plays and musicals).

[SamG]

3. I'm sure the reference to Jesus had as ..

much to do with this.

Some people find any critical thought about religious beliefs more offensive.

In any event, either ALL t-shirts with writing on them should be banned at school, or this student can wear one that he wants. Schools cannot pick what free speech they support and which they censor.

[Fearless]

4. Here's a second link...

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/high-school-student-sues-wear-t-shirt-article-1.1055870/


The best part about this story is that the school has no legal right to tell him to take it off unless it's causing a disturbance BEFORE they ask him to take it off.