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Filed under: Lifestyle, Local News, Youth
Sun. January 13, 2008 10:55:27 AM
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Naperville, IL — A federal judge has once again ruled that a Neuqua Valley High School student cannot wear an anti-gay shirt to school that reads "Be Happy, Not Gay."
U.S. District Judge William Hart declined to issue a temporary injunction that would have ordered school officials to allow sophomore Alexander Nuxoll to wear the shirt this April as a protest to the National "Day of Silence" when students wear T-shirts, buttons and stickers showing support of gay students.
Nuxoll is one of two students who were told by their Naperville school that the t-shirt is discriminatory. Nuxoll and Heidi Zamecnik had tried to wear the shirts in 2006.
According to the federal lawsuit Zamecnik filed against Indian Prairie District 204 board and administrators, she was told she had to remove the shirt or leave school because some students and staff found it offensive.
Last year the Alliance Defense Fund, a law firm that represents conservative Christians, sought an injunction barring the school from taking action against them for wearing the t-shirts.
At that time a federal judge ruled that the school had the right to dictate a dress code.
"The (school) board and school administrators have engaged in a considerable effort to create a positive and tolerant school environment with an emphasis on respectful attitudes and discourse," Federal Judge William T. Hart said in April.
Suburbgirl on Wednesday, 4/2/2008
I live near Naperville, and am surprised how well the school has dealt with this. It's great they've finally gotten around to ending their codependency for snotty, hate - filled, insecure kids.
supafresh on Wednesday, 4/23/2008
ummm wtf is wrong with you guys, this kid is prob a pimp and jus gets all the girls that you could never get so you decide to be gay. Gay people are disgusting, they do UNSANITARY things, if i went to this school i would definetly wear that shirt.
robert on Saturday, 5/3/2008
THIS KID IS RIGHT ON! It's totally his choice to say what he wants to on school grounds, and it other's choice to listen or not. If you are so easily influenced by those around you, take a look at yourself, not that kid
Neuqua Mom on Monday, 5/19/2008
As a mom whose son also wore a shirt that expressed truth in a loving and honoring way on that day I fully support both Alex and Heidi. While some may not agree with them, their shirts were NOT hateful. At least in the context of my son's shirt, his message was to love and honor people, however it doesn't mean that you have to accept the sin. We all have things about us that make us imperfect and we are not to judge others, but I think it is ok to express what you think. Also, you have to remember that while you may not agree with the message we have to hold on to the liberties and freedoms that we have.
Patrick on Friday, 12/26/2008
Look,
What the judge said was it's up for the school district to decide whether or not the shirts can be worn. Whether the shirt was hateful or not is a different question. Schools routinely forbid female students from having bare midriffs - not because it's hateful to bare your midriff, but because some people find it offensive. Back when the "Jackass" movies came out, there were a spate of controversies when schools forbade students from wearing t-shirts with the name of the movie. No one thought that those shirts were hateful, but they were banned because they offended some people.
MissSassy on Wednesday, 2/6/2008
I live in Naperville and I am appalled by this student. I chose to live here because of the great school district. Children are not born knowing how to hate. This is something the student learned at home.