CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
war
"
>
war
"
data-page-title="
When kids at Maria Carrillo High School in Santa Rosa, Calif., started teasing Mormon student Rebekah Rice about her religion, the freshman responded, "That's so gay." Rice was then sent to the principal's office by a teacher--who was also adviser to the school's gay-straight alliance--and the incident was noted in her file.
Now the city's school district is fighting a lawsuit that claims Rice was discriminated against and harassed not only for being Mormon but because her parents had protested the school's "Day of Dialogue," which in part encouraged discussion of gay issues. The Rices also claim Rebekah was threatened by a lesbian student during an anti-hate crimes rally.
The lawsuit, filed by Rebekah's parents in 2003, went to a nonjury trial in February. The suit seeks to remove the "That's so gay" notation from Rebekah's school record and also intends to notify all parents that the R-rated film Saving Private Ryan was shown in school without prior parental permission.
The Rices are members of the conservative group Eagle Forum. Orlean Koehle, president of the California Eagle Forum and a substitute teacher in Santa Rosa, stated in court that the Rices' lawsuit was "partially to counter the pro-gay agenda in public schools."
Rebekah, now 18, testified in court that to her "That's so gay" means, "That's so stupid, that's so silly, that's so dumb."
Many don't think "That's so gay" is so innocuous. Kevin Jennings, executive director of the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network, tells The Advocate, "It's not about this one student--it's about a pervasive and serious problem that far too few schools are addressing."
A judge is expected to rule by mid July.
"That's so gay"
war
Want more breaking equality news & trending entertainment stories?
Check out our NEW 24/7 streaming service: the Advocate Channel!
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Meet all 37 of the queer women in this season's WNBA
April 17 2024 11:24 AM
17 Celebs Who Are Out & Proud of Their Trans & Nonbinary Kids
November 30 2023 10:41 AM
Which State Is the Queerest? These Are the States With the Most LGBTQ+ People
December 11 2023 10:00 AM
These 27 Senate Hearing Room Gay Sex Jokes Are Truly Exquisite
December 17 2023 3:33 PM
10 Cheeky and Homoerotic Photos From Bob Mizer's Nude Films
November 18 2023 10:05 PM
Here are the 15 gayest travel destinations in the world: report
March 26 2024 9:23 AM
These Are the 5 States With the Smallest Percentage of LGBTQ+ People
December 13 2023 9:15 AM
25 pics of hot, shirtless celebs just to remind us of warmer weather
January 14 2024 10:47 AM
Watch Now: Advocate Channel
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Latest Stories
Bay Area man convicted for attacking, robbing, abandoning Grindr hookup
May 08 2024 5:25 PM
Pride
Yahoo FeedSlay summer with The Pride Store's top warm-weather essentials
May 08 2024 1:48 PM