La. Student Sent Home for Gay T-Shirt

A Louisiana middle school student sent home by the principal for wearing a pro-equality T-shirt is receiving support from the American Civil Liberties Union.

WWLTV reports on the developments at Desoto Parish Middle School, where principal Keith Simmons sent Dawn Henderson home after she refused to change a T-shirt that said, "Some kids are gay. That's OK."

Marjorie Esman, executive director of the ACLU of Louisiana, said in a letter to the principal that sending Henderson home constituted a violation of the student's First Amendment Rights.

School officials claimed the T-shirt was disruptive, but no incidents were reported, according to WWLTV.

"Sending Dawn home for wearing a shirt with the word 'gay' on it not only trampled her right to freedom of expression, but also sent a destructive message to all students that there is something wrong with being gay or even saying the word 'gay,'" said Esman. "A school is the best place to encourage young people to share opinions."