ACLU Blasts School Officials for Illegally Censoring Gay Student
Mon. April 26, 2004 12:00 AM
No "Queer Eye" at North Carolina High School
New York -
The American Civil Liberties Union has come to the aid of a gay student at James Baxter Hunt, Jr. High School in Wilson, North Carolina, criticizing the school for removing two posters promoting his campaign for student body president and demanding that it take steps to remedy its illegal censorship.
“All I wanted to do was be open about who I am and let other students know that if they elect me president I'll welcome and accept diversity and a variety of ideas,” said Jarred Gamwell, a 17-year-old junior who hopes to become an English teacher. He added, “I’m ready to fight for the rights of students at my school, but I didn't expect to have to fight for my own rights first.”
On Tuesday, April 20, Jarred put up some campaign posters, as all the candidates are allowed to do, and went to his Honors Band class. When his class ended, Jarred discovered two of the posters -- one with the slogan “Queer Eye for Hunt High” and another reading “Gay Guys Know Everything!” -- had been taken down. Jarred went to school administrators and discovered that it was Principal Bill Williamson who had ordered the removal of the posters.
The next day, Jarred met with Williamson and asked why the posters were taken down. The principal refused to answer, so Jarred left a list of questions about why the posters had been removed and asked for a response in writing. Williamson let Jarred take the posters when he left. On Thursday, Jarred asked again, but Williamson again refused to answer any questions about the incident, telling Jarred that principals don't have to explain their actions to students. No other candidates’ posters have been taken down by school officials.
“Without any explanation whatsoever, the principal of Hunt High School has tried to stop Jarred Gamwell from being open and honest with his fellow students about his life and identity -- a blatant violation of his First Amendment right to free expression,” said Leslie Cooper, a staff attorney with the ACLU's Lesbian and Gay Rights Project. She added, “The Supreme Court has long held that high school students – including gay students – are protected by the Constitution.”
In its letter to the school, the ACLU asks that Hunt High School do two things to correct its violation of Jarred’s rights:
Permit Jarred to put the two posters back up immediately, and
Allow Jarred to convey the messages that were kept from the student body and talk about the censorship that has taken place in his campaign speech, scheduled along with the other candidates for tomorrow afternoon.
Jarred is represented by Cooper, ACLU of North Carolina Managing Attorney Seth Jaffe, and cooperating attorney Seth Cohen of Greensboro.
“All I wanted to do was be open about who I am and let other students know that if they elect me president I'll welcome and accept diversity and a variety of ideas,” said Jarred Gamwell, a 17-year-old junior who hopes to become an English teacher. He added, “I’m ready to fight for the rights of students at my school, but I didn't expect to have to fight for my own rights first.”
On Tuesday, April 20, Jarred put up some campaign posters, as all the candidates are allowed to do, and went to his Honors Band class. When his class ended, Jarred discovered two of the posters -- one with the slogan “Queer Eye for Hunt High” and another reading “Gay Guys Know Everything!” -- had been taken down. Jarred went to school administrators and discovered that it was Principal Bill Williamson who had ordered the removal of the posters.
The next day, Jarred met with Williamson and asked why the posters were taken down. The principal refused to answer, so Jarred left a list of questions about why the posters had been removed and asked for a response in writing. Williamson let Jarred take the posters when he left. On Thursday, Jarred asked again, but Williamson again refused to answer any questions about the incident, telling Jarred that principals don't have to explain their actions to students. No other candidates’ posters have been taken down by school officials.
“Without any explanation whatsoever, the principal of Hunt High School has tried to stop Jarred Gamwell from being open and honest with his fellow students about his life and identity -- a blatant violation of his First Amendment right to free expression,” said Leslie Cooper, a staff attorney with the ACLU's Lesbian and Gay Rights Project. She added, “The Supreme Court has long held that high school students – including gay students – are protected by the Constitution.”
In its letter to the school, the ACLU asks that Hunt High School do two things to correct its violation of Jarred’s rights:
Permit Jarred to put the two posters back up immediately, and
Allow Jarred to convey the messages that were kept from the student body and talk about the censorship that has taken place in his campaign speech, scheduled along with the other candidates for tomorrow afternoon.
Jarred is represented by Cooper, ACLU of North Carolina Managing Attorney Seth Jaffe, and cooperating attorney Seth Cohen of Greensboro.