Georgia high school bans all clubs to stop gay-straight alliance  | News | Advocate.com

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September 01, 2005
Georgia high school bans all clubs to stop gay-straight alliance

Nonacademic clubs have been banned from a Northeast Georgia high school where students formed a gay-straight alliance earlier this year. White County school administrators have decided to enact a proposal made last March by high school principal Bryan Dorsey recommending that all noncurricular groups be banned from the school; they must now meet off campus and are no longer endorsed by the school.

After initial attempts earlier this year to stop students from forming the gay-straight alliance, the school board approved the formation of a broader-based pro-tolerance group known as Peers Rising In Diverse Education, or PRIDE. The ACLU of Georgia negotiated with the school board on behalf of the PRIDE students, arguing that banning the club violated the Federal Equal Access Act.

Principal Dorsey’s recommendation came just two days after the school board finally gave the club the green light.

School superintendant Paul Shaw says the school board will not vote on the policy enacted by the principal. Shaw told The [Gainesville] Times, "We sought legal advice, did what was recommended, and moved on." He added that the board's attorney said that such a matter should be left to individual schools. Students were informed of the decision in a letter sent by the school in late July before the new school year began August 8. As well as PRIDE, the ban also affects the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Students Against Drunk Driving, the Key Club, and the Youth Advisory Club. (St. John Flynn/Sirius OutQ News)

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