School sued after banning student from wearing ‘Some people are gay’ t-shirt
By Will Stroude
A Tennessee high school is being sued after banning a student from wearing a t-shirt bearing the slogan ‘Some people are gay – get over it!’
The American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee filed a lawsuit against Richland High School this week (November 23) over the incident, which took place back in August, Gay Star News reports.
Senior Rebecca Young was claims she was publicly reprimanded by the principal in front of a cafeteria full of students for wearing the “provocative” item of clothing. Her mother was reportedly told afterwards that the shirt violated the school’s dress code banning material of a ‘sexual nature’ and pro-LGBT messages, including rainbows.
“Censoring Rebecca for wearing a shirt just because it has the word ‘gay’ on it not only violates her right to free speech, it sends a harmful message to students that there is something wrong with being gay, or even using the word ‘gay’,” said ACLU Tennessee Legal Director Thomas H Castelli.
“Students have a First Amendment right not only to be out at school, but to an education free from such discrimination and harassment.”
Rebecca herself said of the controversy: “I just want my school to be a safe place for all students, free from harassment or discrimination.”
“Wearing the shirt was a way to express my support for gay people and for treating them with respect. The censorship I experienced clearly shows why I felt the need to use my voice this way in the first place.”
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