SC school district mulling ban of gay-friendly student club
Associated Press - June 9, 2008 1:45 PM ET
IRMO, S.C. (AP) - Rather than risk a lawsuit by banning a gay student organization, a South Carolina school district is considering whether to ban all student clubs that don't relate to academics or sports.
The Lexington-Richland School District 5 school board plans to vote Monday night on whether the district should ban the clubs as a way to shut down a proposed group called the Gay-Straight Alliance.
A school spokeswoman says the district couldn't stop the alliance from forming because federal law prohibits discriminating against a club based on its purpose.
Last month, Irmo High School principal Eddie Walker announced he would step down at the end of the next school year because the Gay-Straight Alliance conflicts with his beliefs and religious convictions.
Update: Lexington-Richland 5 trustees postponed a vote on a controversial plan to add more regulations to noncurricular student clubs.
ReplyDeleteThe proposal would add stringent rules to such clubs, including requiring parental consent for participation, banning those clubs from fundraising on school campuses and prohibiting clubs from using the school’s name.
The board is expected to take up the measure again June 23.
Eddie Walker, principal of District 5’s Irmo High School, said last month he would step down at the end of the next school year because a planned Gay-Straight Alliance club conflicts with his beliefs and religious convictions.
Officials had said the district couldn’t stop the alliance from forming because federal law prohibits discriminating against a club based on its purpose.
http://www.thestate.com/local/story/429510.html