Teen sues over 'lesbian Barbie' shirt ban

Reuters/CNN ^ | 6/20/03 | Reuters

[Pro-Bush]

NEW YORK (Reuters) -- A New York teenager alleged on Thursday that 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 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."

[martin_fierro]

"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' T-shirt, she would have been called a patriot."

I guess a "Pedophile Barbie" t-shirt would be just dandy with this guy.

[South40]

Barbie is no lesbian...she's a suicide bomber.

[Unknowing]

I think that it's up to Barbie to sue for defamation. Though, as a public figure, Barbie will have to prove the T-shirt message was published with actual malice.

The school simply does not have legal standing here to enforce Barbie's interests in this matter. And it seems that the school's "appropriateness" standard can be attacked for overbreadth.

[netmilsmom]

Just another reason for School uniforms.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

A teen is suing, yeah, right. Sounds more like a teen's parents suing. Let me guess, the parents have nowhere to go and the television is broken.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

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

So what does that tell you, dumbass?

You're free to express yourself but that doesn't mean that everybody has to accept you and tell you that you're wonderful.

[The Iguana]

Just another reason for School uniforms.

Exactly what I was going to say.

Uniform schools don't have to bother with these "problems."

School is for learning, not fashion wars or making political statements on your chest.

[Beth]

We've got teens suing for not making the cheer squad, suing because there were two valedictorians, and suing over a T-shirt.

The abuse of the courts by such petty lawsuits is too much! Where are their parents? When are they going to teach their kids to grow a soul?

[isthisnickcool]

Well, those darn lesbians are quick to sue. Any little thing makes them find a lawyer "licket-d-split".

[weegee]

In schools that have no formalized uniform, many kids still conform to their peers' accepted uniform (whether is it jeans and a t-shirt or designer names).

[weegee]

Even in uniform schools there is always that boy who wants to wear his hair long or have an earing (against dress code rules).

[tuna_battle_slight_return]

Already posted

[Jeff Gordon]

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

It truely warms my heart to see that the liberals are catching on.

[CyberAnt]

What I don't understand is why is a teacher laughing at what a student is wearing ...?? Even if it's stupid ...?? What does the teacher care ...?? If the shirt covers the child I just don't see the problem with what the shirt said.

[Tamar1973]

What I don't understand is why is a teacher laughing at what a student is wearing ...??

Doesn't the teacher have a right to free speech? Or only the kids?

[CyberAnt]

I meant ... what's the point of laughing at a student - aren't these the people who are always screaming at us about TOLERANCE - I don't call that very tolerant!!

And ... I think it sets a bad example for the other children and teaches them to laugh at what others wear.

[gcruse]

The principal who sent her home would get my subpoena.

[PA Engineer]

LOL!

[PALACE ATHENA]

People are missing the point. It's about dress code and discipline that a lot of kids do not have due to moms and dads who run to lawyers everytime their kids don't get their way.

[freedumb2003]

>>14-year-old Natalie Young is openly lesbian <<

A 14 year old can't formulate the thoughts necessary to be a "lesbian." At that age they can, at best, indicate a liking of the culture (like Heavy Metal or Goth).

The idea that homosexuality, which is a lifestyle choice, should even be dealt with in Middle or High School is once again a sign of the encroachement of the Liberal culture on our youth.

My advice: Homeschool.

[arasina]

Seems to me there should be a Lawyer Barbie doll. She wears LAWSUITS on a daily basis.

(The penchant for suing over "First Amendment Rights" is what sickens me. What about the teacher's right to free speech?)

[Squawk 8888]

14-year-old Natalie Young is openly lesbian

Give me a break. At that age there's no way you can be sure- I'm willing to bet that she was confused and some idjit shrink convinced her that she was gay.

[weegee]

What I don't understand is why is a teacher laughing at what a student is wearing ...??

Was the shirt meant to be taken "seriously" or was it a joke (like Crack Whore Barbie)?

Here's the Yahoo "Barbie Parodies" sub-category

Should the teacher not laugh at a student's shirt if he or she wore this:

Transvestite Barbie

Is this even acceptable attire for a classroom?

I can't post this picture because it is a geocities link (but I did post the link).

The picture that I find matching the term "lesbian barbie" (same picture on several websites) has her tied down to a bed completely naked being attended to by another naked Barbie. I won't be posting a link to that one.

Mattel has issued cease and desist letters to the parody sites so any "lesbian Barbie" t-shirt is a bootleg.

[Pearls Before Swine]

"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.

A very telling phrase about this situation. Perez is her lawyer.

[mhking]

"Hold muh beer 'n watch this!" PING....

If you want on or off this list, please let me know!

[Hank Rearden]

Barbie's not a lesbian, she's a "nothing". I checked when I was seven.

[judgeandjury]

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.

There you have it, the real motivation for filing this lawsuit.

[g'nad]

14-year-old Natalie Young is openly lesbian

excuse me, but how can a fourteen year old know that she is a lesbian?... oh ... wait a minute... public school... New York... she's been thoroughly indoctinated... nevermind...

at least the teacher laughed... that's somethin' anyway...

[AdA$tra]

Any little thing makes them find a lawyer "licket-d-split".

She is working on a cabinet in woodshop class. 100% tongue and groove construction.