Posted on 04/11/2007 3:19:20 PM PDT by Coleus
Calling a judge's decision Friday to allow a Gay-Straight Alliance to meet at her high school a "relief," club president Yasmin Gonzalez said she wants the group to have its meeting on campus next week. "It's a big step forward. We had to meet out of school, and we have a lot of members, but a lot can't make it out of school," Gonzalez said. U.S. District Judge K. Michael Moore granted a preliminary injunction Friday that allows Gonzalez and the Gay-Straight Alliance of Okeechobee High School — which Gonzalez tried to start at the school in September — to meet on campus. The ruling isn't a total victory for the club, which still has to wait on the judge's final ruling in the lawsuit against the Okeechobee County School Board. Gonzalez, a senior, hopes to have a meeting on campus next week.
"It's been a lot of stress on everybody. Some parents don't want their kids involved just because of the lawsuit. I hope because we're allowed on campus they might come around," she said. Such clubs are rare on the Treasure Coast, with only a few at local schools, including a Gay-Straight Alliance at Lincoln Park Academy in Fort Pierce and the newly formed H.U.G.S. (Helping Unite Gays & Straights) at Vero Beach High School.
The lawsuit was filed in November by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of Gonzalez, claiming the School Board and Principal Toni Wiersma violated the federal Equal Access Act. The law gives student-run groups the right to assemble in public schools receiving federal funding, so long as the schools recognize at least one club not affiliated with school curricula. It originally was designed to protect religious student groups that wanted to meet on campuses.
The judge's ruling was positive for the club, with the judge rejecting the school district's arguments the club can't meet because its subject matter would violate a state law that requires students be taught abstinence and the benefits of monogamous, heterosexual marriage and the claim the club is a "sex-based club," which the school district says it prohibits, said Robert Rosenwald, lead plaintiff's attorney. "Now the school has to open its doors, and now we'll see if they do it," said Rosenwald.
School board officials didn't comment Friday because school was closed, but Seminole attorney Barbara Weller, who represents the Okeechobee School District, said she planned to meet with district officials early this week to talk about the judge's decision. Weller said she felt the judge agreed with the school district, which she said felt all along an "anti-harassment" group would be appropriate on campus with a name different from "Gay-Straight Alliance."
Although the school district has refused to settle the suit in the past, Weller said she didn't know whether Friday's decision would change that. The next step for the lawsuit is the discovery phase, where both sides request documents of each other and start depositions. Rosenwald said this is just the beginning of a case like this, which he said can take 3 to 4 years to litigate.
Gonzalez, who said she has gotten a lot of support from students and parents both, is looking ahead to the club's future. The club, which she said has about 10 to 15 people at each meeting, has many underclassmen to continue the club when she graduates. "I'm trying to get these guys set up for next year," she said. "(We're) just taking it one step at a time."
WHAT'S NEXT
• Students will immediately be able to meet immediately as the Gay-Straight Alliance on campus.
• School district officials will meet with their attorney next week to discuss the judge's decision.
• A judge still must rule on whether to prohibit the school district from asking detailed questions about the students' personal lives as part of the lawsuit.
>>The judge’s ruling was positive for the club, with the judge rejecting the school district’s arguments the club can’t meet because its subject matter would violate a state law that requires students be taught abstinence and the benefits of monogamous, heterosexual marriage and the claim the club is a “sex-based club,” which the school district says it prohibits, said Robert Rosenwald, lead plaintiff’s attorney.<<
That was the best argument the school could make?
I live about 20 miles from this school.
The area is a serious redneck area. The most popular bar is a place called 8 seconds for bull riding, and the schools nickname is the Brahmans. After the bull with the large hump.
Suprised some kids there want to identify as homosexuel.
They won’t be accepted well by the majority of locals.
I foresee trouble ahead.
Sorry but Merle’s song was about a town in Oklahoma, Muskogie
I think I'd start using my first name. Although this judge probably likes sharing the name of Michael Moore.
Propably exactly what these radical ajitators are seeking.
Later pingout.
I know, I just addopted the song for this city.
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