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."

[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.