Colorado High School Drops Pro-Gay T-Shirt Ban
After a number of complaints, a Colorado school district has switched course and decided to allow a student to wear a pro-gay rights T-shirt.
Earlier this month, Falcon High School senior Kate Cohn was banned from wearing a T-shirt that read, “Marriage is so gay.” School officials told her the top was disruptive to learning and could also offend other students.
So the American Civil Liberties Union sent a letter to the school just east of Colorado Springs, demanding that Cohn be allowed to wear the shirt. Cohn says she was making a silent, peaceful, political statement to support the rights of gays and lesbians to marry.
But in a quick turn of events, the school district changed its mind and now says the t-shirt is in fact acceptable. A district spokeswoman told OutQ News that once school officials learned the meaning behind the message, and realized Cohn was actually trying to say something POSITIVE, they felt she had a free speech right to wear the T-shirt.
The ACLU says it’s unfortunate it took a letter to teach the school basic constitutional law, but says it applauds the schools prompt correction of its actions.
-Bente Birkeland
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