Student Sues High School for Censoring Pro-Gay Expression  | News | Advocate.com

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02/02/08-02/04/08
Student Sues High School for Censoring Pro-Gay Expression

The American Civil Liberties Union is suing a high school in Florida, saying it fosters an atmosphere of fear and censorship against students sporting gay rights paraphernalia. Administrators at Ponce de Leon High School stated that wearing rainbow stickers could identify students as members of an illegal organization.

"All any of us wants to do is be able to talk about gay rights issues without having to be scared," said 16-year-old student Heather Gillman in a press release. "Nobody should have to worry about being kicked out of school just for having a rainbow sticker on your notebook."

The ACLU sent a letter to the school on behalf of Gillman asking whether a variety of symbols and slogans, such as the rainbow flag or "I support my gay friends," would be allowed. The school district replied that it would not allow any expressions for gay rights because the speech would be disruptive and students could interpret stickers and other paraphernalia as symbols of gangs or a "secret/illegal organization."

An unidentified student was suspended for five days for expressing her support for gay rights. Students said that a lesbian peer was harassed and tried to report the situation to administrators. She was instead greeted with censorship when they forbade students to write "gay pride" on their arms and notebooks in solidarity.

"Writing something like ‘I support gay rights' on your notebook doesn't mean you're part of some secret conspiracy or shadowy organization," said Christine Sun, a staff attorney with the ACLU's national Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Project. "Schools shouldn't be in the business of trying to frighten students into silence." (The Advocate)

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