-Caveat Lector- WJPBR Email News List [EMAIL PROTECTED] Peace at any cost is a Prelude to War! Student Sues School Over Ban of 'Straight Pride' Sweatshirt By Melanie Hunter CNS Evening Editor April 03, 2001 (CNSNews.com) - A St. Paul, Minn., teenager is suing his high school after school officials told him his sweatshirt, with the trademark logo 'Straight Pride,' was offensive to gay, lesbian and bisexual students. On the back of 16-year-old Elliot Chambers' shirt was the universal symbol of a man and woman holding hands. "In the afternoon, he was approached by an assistant principal who told him that a female student, representing a group of homosexual students, were offended at Elliot's wearing of the sweatshirt, and the assistant principal said she would be speaking with the principal about the matter," said Michael DePrimo of the American Family Association Law Center, who is representing the family. "The next day, Elliot was summoned to the principal's office, and he was told he could not wear the sweatshirt to school again, allegedly because homosexuals were offended by it," DePrimo said. The school has set up "safe" rooms, marked by inverted pink triangles, the universal symbol of the homosexual community. The "safe" rooms are set aside for student/teacher discussion and counseling about homosexuality and other "non-traditional relationships." During a meeting with the school principal Dana Babbitt, the Chambers expressed concern about the school's open support of homosexuality. The Chambers claim Babbitt called them "homophobic." "The Chambers have contacted many other parents of Woodbury High School students and informed them of the safe rooms and the open support that the school is giving to homosexuality and bisexuality," DePrimo said. "From what I heard, every parent was outraged to find out what the school has done." The center is challenging the constitutionality of the school's policy, which, according to DePrimo, says, "Students may not wear items with unacceptable writing or graphic depictions, which offend anyone or distract from the educational experience of students at Woodbury High School. Unacceptable writing or graphic depictions are those, which are commonly accepted as vulgar, obscene or socially demeaning or derogatory." DePrimo added, "And it's our position that his sweatshirt does not fall into that category." Stephen M. Crampton, chief counsel for the center, said, "This is a case of classic viewpoint discrimination. The school has chosen to openly embrace homosexuality and bisexuality, and it does not welcome dissenting points of views. What is especially troubling is the school's open hostility toward student support of committed man-woman relationships." Principal Dana Babbitt and the school district declined comment. The American Family Association Law Center is the legal arm of the American Family Association, Inc., and it has offices in Tupelo, Miss., and Washington, D.C. The center restricts its practice to constitutional litigation in state and federal courts throughout the country. *COPYRIGHT NOTICE** In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for nonprofit research and educational purposes only.[Ref. http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml ] Want to be on our lists? Write at [EMAIL PROTECTED] for a menu of our lists! <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html">Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
