(NY) Teen sues over "lesbian Barbie" shirt ban

NewsYahoo.com ^ | June 19, 2003

[Sweet_Sunflower29]

A New York teen-ager has alleged teachers violated her civil rights when they suspended her from school for wearing a "Barbie is a Lesbian" T-shirt.

Lawyers who filed a lawsuit on her behalf in Manhattan federal court on Thursday said 14-year-old Natalie Young is openly lesbian and that a teacher laughed at her, calling the garment and its reference to the popular Barbie doll "inappropriate."

Young alleged that the principal held her for three hours in an office at the school in the borough of Queens on April 10, 2002 and refused to allow her to return to class while she wore the T-shirt.

A spokesman for the city education department, a defendant in the lawsuit, declined immediate comment.

Young was suspended for the day and the principal threatened to send her home again if she wore the T-shirt to school in future, the lawsuit alleged.

"Schools cannot legally engage in this type of selective, content-based suppression of speech," lawyer Dan Perez said. "If she had worn a 'Barbie Supports the Troops in the War in Iraq (news - web sites)' T-shirt, she would have been called a patriot."

Perez said that on another school day before the T-shirt incident, teachers made Young remove rainbow coloured beads from her hair, although she was not suspended then.

The lawsuit, which names the education department, school principal and several teachers as defendants, seeks a declaration from the court that Young's constitutional right to free speech was violated. It asks the department to issue guidelines on students' dress and on dealing with students' expression of their sexual orientation.

The lawsuit, which was filed in the name of the student's mother, Kathleen Hodges, because Young is a minor, also seeks unspecified monetary damages.

"That is not the most important issue here but if a jury decides to contribute to Natalie's college fund, all the better," Perez said.

[smadurski]

If the shirt violated the school dress code then she has no case. There were all kinds of shirts banned when I was in HS like beer and tobacco company shirts.

[bedolido]

At 14 she doesn't know she a lesbian. She may have tendencies (sp), but she probably just wants attention, and she's getting it.

[Thud]

My daughter at age 6 created a "biker" Barbie with marking pens.

[FeliciaCat]

Barbie is lesbian?!!?!?!?!? Poor Ken, he was the last to know...

[Sweet_Sunflower29]

My sons created a gaggle of headless barbies, much to my daughters' shock, a couple of years ago.

:*)

[bedolido]

gaggle of headless barbies

Barbies come in gaggles (still on point).

[Servant of the Nine]

Barbie is lesbian?!!?!?!?!? Poor Ken, he was the last to know...

I always thought Ken was a little light in the loafers himself.

So9

[AdamSelene235]

Poor Ken, he was the last to know...

Ken's a Eunuch !!

[bedolido]

little light in the loafers

agree!!!...lol

[ikka]

If she is practicing lesbian, time for some investigation by the police.

[FeliciaCat]

It depends on which Ken...mine was "sporty Ken" he came with a tennis racket and golf club and the cool 70's haircut....my barbie had aqua eye shadow and a matching bikini with a killer tan...

[thegreatbeast]

Is something special going to happen when the one millionth teenager talks his or her parents into suing the local school authority over an issue of dress? Will they be included in the next Real World? Will Fifty Cent play a concert in their town?
We should do something to mark this special event. It's coming up fast.

[Prodigal Son]

Exactly. What's a 14 year old even doing having sex?

[bedolido]

It depends on which Ken...mine was "sporty Ken" he came with a tennis racket and golf club and the cool 70's haircut....my barbie had aqua eye shadow and a matching bikini with a killer tan...

When my older sister would leave I would take her barbi--- maybe this is for another time.

[Dan from Michigan]

I couldn't wear my old "Red Dog" T-shirt in high school. Life sucks, get a helmet.

[robertpaulsen]

"Schools cannot legally engage in this type of selective, content-based suppression of speech," lawyer Dan Perez said. "If she had worn a 'Barbie Supports the Troops in the War in Iraq (news - web sites)' T-shirt, she would have been called a patriot."

Would he still say that if school officials wore T-shirts with "Dan Perez is a Headline Grabbing Shyster"?

[week 71]

It's this girl's constitutional right to wear that ridiculous shirt. Just as it should be a students constitutional right to where a shirt that states proud to be heterosexual or Jesus saves.

[FeliciaCat]

you were one of those brothers who took thier sisters barbie's cut their heads off and tied their bodies to your tonka trucks while racing them down the steepest hill you could find...am I right? ;)

[Xthe17th]

OK, time to bring back school uniforms:

[bedolido]

Just as it should be a students constitutional right to where a shirt that states proud to be heterosexual or Jesus saves.

Yup! It should be the same, however, they may have a problem with the "Jesus" part (I am a Christian too).

[MD_Willington_1976]

My friend's sister's Ken doll had an unfortunate bomb disposal episode when trying to "disarm" an M-80 that was found under the barbie corvette....And Barbie herself learned the hard way that hairspray and bic lighters don't go well together....

[tuna_battle_slight_return]

"At 14 she doesn't know she a lesbian."

Of course she knows. At 10 or 11, I knew that I was heterosexual (attracted to girls).

[PBRSTREETGANG]

"Barbie is a Lesbian"

Can't be. She's never even been seen at a WNBA game.

[farmfriend]

My son has a shirt that he can't wear to school. It takes the phrase "shit happens" and rewords it according to different religions. Very funny but irreverant.

[bedolido]

Of course she knows. At 10 or 11, I knew that I was heterosexual (attracted to girls).

I disagree. She may have tendencies, but she isn't mature enough to understand her feelings.

(attracted to girls)?...hmmmm was that a slam?

[week 71]

It should be the same, however, they may have a problem with the "Jesus" part (I am a Christian too).

Indeed. Frankly I'm surprised the school did anything. It is normally Christian attire or Bibles that are banned from government schools.

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

"That is not the most important issue here but if a jury decides to contribute to Natalie's college fund, all the better," Perez said.

How about if this precious 14 year old lesbian worked on getting high grades for a scholarship instead of expecting the 'High School Monitary Pervert Award'.

[eno_]

Barbie looked a lot more butch after my daughter got done cutting her hair.

[theFIRMbss]

>Can't be. She's never even been seen at a WNBA game.

[newgeezer]

It's this girl's constitutional right

Students have the right to receive an education while attending school. Therefore, schools institute dress codes forbidding that clothing which would reasonably be expected to disrupt the classroom. That's why dress codes survive court challenges.

[zip]

This girl? has major mental problems and is confronting authority to be noticed. It's a shame that she isn't institutonalized until her problems are resolved. It's the ol' liberal "let's sue" mentality.

[newgeezer]

My son has a shirt that he can't wear to school. It takes the phrase "sh[*]t happens" and rewords it according to different religions. Very funny but irreverant.

Some religions are beyond reverence. For instance, "Islam Happens" ...

[week 71]

"Students have the right to receive an education while attending school. Therefore, schools institute dress codes forbidding that
clothing which would reasonably be expected to disrupt the classroom. That's why dress codes survive court challenges."

I understand that view point. However it vital students learn to go through this world where people disagree with them. Learn tolerance as it is truly defined... disagreeing with someone but not hating them. Unlike how some define tolerance... as believing everything is okay so long as it doesn't hurt some one.
cordially

[Xenalyte]

A well-reared 14-year-old shouldn't be openly anything.

[Drew68]

Of course she knows. At 10 or 11, I knew that I was heterosexual (attracted to girls).

I agree --to a point. I do believe some people (mostly females) experiment with homosexuality because they think it is rebellious or will make them more attractive to boys. In college, we called these chicks "LTGs" or "Lesbians Till Graduation."

Others, however, are born that way. I remember a kid in the third grade. He had a lisp, played dolls with the girls at recess, avoided sports, and generally acted "girly". He wasn't unpopular but we all knew then he was gay.

Well, at my ten-year high school reunion a few years ago, so-and-so shows up and guess what? He's gay. Not a sole was surprised.

[Xenalyte]

Or these kind.

[Redcloak]

"If she had worn a 'Barbie Supports the Troops in the War in Iraq' T-shirt, she would have been called a patriot."

There's a difference between "Barbie supports the troops" and "Barbie spanks Skipper".

[newgeezer]

However it vital students learn to go through this world where people disagree with them.

That's the kind of stuff they can learn outside of school. Contrary to growing popular belief, the school's primary mission is not to serve as a social training ground.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Maybe the kid has a point.

[week 71]

That's the kind of stuff they can learn outside of school. Contrary to growing popular belief, the school's primary mission is not to serve as a social training ground. Good point. However stand by my claim. cheers

[T Minus Four]

Not a sole was surprised

Speaking of loafers...

[Drew68]

Speaking of loafers...

I knew that spelling didn't look right! :)

Not a sole was surprised

SOULSOULSOULSOUL!!!! There, I got it now!

[T Minus Four]

[T Minus Four]

:-)

[stanz]

A well-reared 14-year-old shouldn't be openly anything

Agreed. Kids are supposed to be in school to be educated. There is a dress code and I don't think anybody's sexual orientation, or political/religious affiliations belong plastered on their chests. At 14, my kid wore cute skirts and dresses to school...her choice. Some wore tee shirts and jeans, but even in her NYC private school, rules had to be followed.

[PALACE ATHENA]

Dear lord, every time some brats in school don't agree with school rules mom and dad get a lawyer to waste money and time. What is going to happen when these brats grow to be adults and keep breaking rules and laws? Mom and dad are not going to be around for ever. Bring back uniforms!!

[Thud]

Can't see the tatooes or body paint for all the clothes. My daughter's artwork added rather conspicuous tatooes and body paint. It was eye-scorching.

[eccentric]

Not uniforms, but a strict dress code, such as button down shirts, no writing on them.