Student Suspended for Saying It’s Wrong to Be Gay

In an episode that seemed to blur the lines between free speech and antibullying efforts in schools, a high school freshman in Fort Worth, Texas, was suspended for saying that according to his Christian beliefs, being gay is wrong, and he sought support from Liberty Counsel.

According to KYTX-TV, Dakota Ary was disciplined for a "possible instance of bullying" on Tuesday when the conversation in his German class at Western Hills High School turned to vocabulary for Christianity and the Bible, and one student asked for translations of gay terms.

Ary said he responded, "'I'm a Christian, and I don't think being gay is right." He received one full day of in-campus suspension and was barred from campus for two more days.

The suspension was dropped after Ary's mother appealed for help from Liberty Counsel, a Christian law group known for its antigay positions including opposition to employment discrimination protections.

The Fort Worth school district said in a statement, "Suffice it to say, we are following policy in our review of the circumstances and any resolution will be in accordance with district policy."