Teed off over T-shirt opinion

Re “Free-speech fashion,” editorial, April 26

If the slogan “Homosexuality Is Shameful” isn’t “fighting words” and does not attack individual gay students, then it would follow that the slogan “Hitler Was Right” would be stylish attire for the classroom too, or “Slavery Was Better Than Affirmative Action.” How about “Illegal Immigrants Are a Virus and Should Be Treated As Such”?

Would words like that not simply offend but distract Jewish, black and Latino students?

Or is that their problem?

JENNIFER HOPPE

Valley Village, Calif.

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Should a school allow a T-shirt saying, “Religion Is Superstition and Encourages Bigotry”?

Who is to determine when a T-shirt poses a “substantial disruption or material interference with school activities”?

JOSEPH GRODSKY

Los Angeles

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I am not a lawyer and do not know whether the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals was on shaky legal ground when it did not uphold a student’s right to wear a T-shirt stating that “Homosexuality Is Shameful.” But I do know that The Times is on shaky ground when it claims that wearing such a message is neither bullying nor harassing and that it “did not attack individual gay students.”

I would argue that such incitement to hatred in schools does precisely that.

BENJAMIN DE VULPILLIERES

Grenoble, France

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Do I have the right to find 9th Circuit Court Judge Stephen Reinhardt’s opinions offensive?

GARY A. ROBB

Los Feliz