Federal court rules for gay students

After a two-day trial in which a Florida high school principal testified that he believed clothing, buttons or stickers featuring rainbows would make students automatically picture gay people having sex, a federal judge on May 13 ruled that the school violated the First Amendment rights of students. Heather Gillman, a 16-year-old junior at Ponce de Leon High School, sued the school with the help of the American Civil Liberties Union after she was told she could not wear buttons, stickers or clothing that supported LGBT civil rights. After she received the warning the ACLU last November sent a letter to the school board's attorney on behalf of Gillman, asking for clarification as to whether a variety of symbols and slogans, such as the rainbow flag or "I support my gay friends," would be allowed at the school. The school district replied that it would not allow any expressions of support for gay rights at all because such speech would "likely be disruptive." The district then said that such symbols and slogans were signs that students were part of a "secret/illegal organization." Judge Richard Smoak of the United States District Court issued an order Tuesday that forces the school to stop its censorship of students who want to express their support for gay people. The judge also warned the district not to retaliate against students over the lawsuit. "Standing up to my school was really hard to do, but I'm so happy that I did because the First Amendment is a big deal to everyone," said Gillman in a statement. During the trial, which was held in Panama City yesterday and today, Ponce de Leon High School's principal David Davis admitted under oath that he had banned students from wearing any clothing or symbols supporting equal rights for gay people. Davis also testified that he believed rainbows were "sexually suggestive" and would make students unable to study because they'd be picturing gay sex acts in their mind. The principal went on to admit that while censoring rainbows and gay pride messages he allowed students to wear other symbols many find controversial, such as the Confederate flag. According to students, problems began in September of 2007 when a lesbian student tried to report to school officials that she was being harassed by other students because she is a lesbian. Instead of addressing the harassment, students say the school responded with intimidation, censorship, and suspensions. That student testified on May 12, breaking down on the stand as she described the school's indifference to the harassment she experienced. "Freedom of speech for every person and every idea is one of the bedrock principles on which America was founded," said Christine Sun, a staff attorney with the ACLU national Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Project. "Censorship reflects a deep lack of faith in the American system, and it teaches students exactly the wrong lesson on what America is about."