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Loading ...Judge: Principal Went On Gay Witch Hunt
07.28.2008 12:38pm EDT
(Ponce de Leon, Florida) A federal judge has accused a Florida high school principal of going on a witch hunt for gays.
In a stinging rebuke, US District Judge Richard Smoak, said in a written ruling that Ponce de Leon High School principal David Davis led a “relentless crusade” against homosexuality at the school.“Davis embarked on what can only be characterized as a witch hunt,” Smoak’s ruling said. The ruling also said that Davis led “morality assemblies” that ignored the First Amendment.
The written ruling was released two months after student Heather Gillman and the American Civil Liberties Union won a free-speech lawsuit that cost the school district $325,000.
Davis has since been replaced as principal.
During the two-day trial in May, Davis testified that he believed clothing, buttons or stickers featuring rainbows would make students automatically picture gay people having sex.
He went on to admit that while censoring rainbows and gay pride messages, he allowed students to wear other symbols many find controversial, such as the Confederate flag.
Gillman, a 16-year-old junior at Ponce de Leon High School, sued the school with the help of the American Civil Liberties Union after she was told she could not wear buttons, stickers or clothing that supported LGBT civil rights.
The ACLU last November sent a letter to the school board’s attorney on behalf of Gillman, asking for clarification as to whether a variety of symbols and slogans, such as the rainbow flag or “I support my gay friends,” would be allowed at the school.
The school district replied that it would not allow any expressions of support for gay rights at all because such speech would “likely be disruptive.”
The district then said that such symbols and slogans were signs that students were part of a “secret/illegal organization.”
Tensions began in September 2007, when a lesbian student tried to report to school officials that she was being harassed by other students because she is a lesbian. Instead of addressing the harassment, students say the school responded with intimidation, censorship and suspensions.
Prior to the release of his written ruling, Smoak issued an order that forced the school to stop its censorship of students who want to express their support for gay people. The judge also warned the district not to retaliate against students over the lawsuit.
If it wasn’t so darned pathetic, it’d be funny. Secret/illegal organization? Did they evaluate this guy for paranoia?
Clearly, the board also needs to resign before they get sued individually.
Sometimes you get the feeling that the civil war is not over. Those who gave us slavery and it’s aftermath, segregation, just need another group to hate, so now it is the gays turn.
And just as slavery was justified by the bible, the same word of God is used to denigrate and deny gay people their rights and equality under the law.
Hell will be filled with southerners for eternity, especially their conservative religious leaderships whose ideas and rhetoric are an affront to the very meaning Of Jesus’ Life.
Something similar happened in Elmore County, Alabama as well at the Middle school, though it wasnt reported. the principal there is known for his constant promotion for christian religious support in the school. Allowing them to post flyers for the church yet not allowing LGBT related flyers to be posted
Its sad that school administrators get away with breaking free speech laws and pass on their hate and ignorance to young people.What the heck goes on in the backward state of Florida??
I grew up in a small town in central Kentucky, I was the first openly gay male in my High Schoool and although the administration could have done better, I think they handled everything in a decent manner. Instead of banning the confederate flag, the principal personally sat down and talked to each student who dawned the flag on their clothing, hats, trucks, etc. and asked that they not bring it on school property anymore due to the “history” of what the flag means to some students and you know what? They happily understood and agreed.
He didn’t go on some crusade to ban it, upsetting people, causing some huge drama fest. Where have people’s common sense gone?
haha… bcuz everyone knows LGBT = “secret/illegal organization”
Clearly if you are going to allow other symbols to be used, then you should allow LBGTQ symbols to be used as well. It was wrong of the principal to censor children, and used intimidation to bully people back into the closet.
He did not display any leadership in that aspect and him being replaced was a good move.
All you Florida taxpayers out there take note! You need to go to your school board meetings and speak up. this happens far too often in Florida and they are using YOUR dollars to fund these witch hunts. this is a public school, any resident paying property taxes is a stakeholder, not just the religio-fascist parents.
judge smoak;thank you for using your authority to make sure that those who want to oppress us, have no quarter in our public schools-right on!
and when I see a confederate flag, I picture white folk lynching black people nd crosses burning! but that’s not disruptive!
It just amazes me how our tax dollars go to work.