A South Carolina
school district has delayed until later in the month a
vote on whether to ban all student clubs that don't relate
to academics or sports as a way to close a gay student
organization.
Vice chairman
Robert Gantt said Monday the Lexington-Richland School
District 5 board was delaying its vote on whether to ban the
clubs to get more public input.
Irmo High School
principal Eddie Walker said last month he would step
down at the end of the next school year because the
Gay-Straight Alliance conflicts with his beliefs and
religious convictions.
Officials had
said the district couldn't stop the alliance from forming
because federal law prohibits discriminating against a club
based on its purpose.
The Gay, Lesbian,
and Straight Education Network says there are about
4,000 gay-straight alliances at schools nationwide,
including 16 in South Carolina. (AP)