ACLU Threatens Suit if Gay School Club Is Blocked
The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California waded into the fray Thursday over the proposed Gay-Straight Alliance club at El Modena High, saying it would pursue legal action against the Orange Unified School District if trustees refuse to approve the club’s formation.
If the school board vetoes the club, the ACLU said in a statement, trustees would be violating the freedom of expression and association guaranteed by the Constitution. A denial by the board could also have a significant impact on the district’s eligibility for federal education funds under a statute that prohibits public schools from discriminating against student clubs on the basis of a club’s philosophical or political viewpoint, according to the statement.
The ACLU’s announcement comes on the heels of a similar statement by the People for the American Way Foundation, a nonprofit civil liberties, First Amendment rights organization. That group has also charged that the school board was violating federal law by stopping efforts to organize the club.
Earlier this week, about 300 parents and students packed a four-hour, district-sponsored public forum on the issue.
Proponents of the club said it would educate all students about tolerance and offer a haven for gay students who they say face harassment.
Opponents quoted the Bible and said the club would only hurt students struggling with their sexual identity.
The school board is scheduled to vote on the club at a meeting Thursday.
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