School District Sued Over Anti-Gay T-Shirt

Agree2Disagree Forum

T-Shirt Reads 'Homosexuality Is Shameful'


POSTED: 7:52 am PDT June 3, 2004
UPDATED: 6:12 pm PDT June 3, 2004

POWAY, Calif. -- A high school student suspended for wearing a T-shirt condemning homosexuality has sued the Poway Unified School District on grounds that it violated his civil rights.

The federal suit said sophomore Tyler Chase Harper, (pictured, right), 16, was suspended for expressing his "sincerely held religious beliefs," 10News reported.

Click here to read the entire lawsuit

Harper wore the shirt during and after the April 21 "Day of Silence," a national event held on high school and college campuses to protest discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students. District officials were served with the suit Wednesday.

According to the suit, on April 21 Harper wore a hand-lettered T-shirt with the words, "I Will Not Accept What God Has Condemned" on the front "Homosexuality is Shameful" on the back.

When Harper wore a similar shirt the next day, a teacher told him he was violating the school dress code and must remove the shirt or go to the office.

The suit contends the school's assistant principal said the shirt violated the code because it had homemade printing and was inflammatory and that Harper was suspended after refusing to remove it.

But, according to 10News, other local school districts have similar policies regarding dress. For example, Sweetwater Union's dress and grooming policy states "clothing must not present ... a distrction which interferes with the education process." It goes on to say "no student shall ... wear clothing ... which express or advocate racial, ethnic, or religious prejudice."

Harper is a Christian who believes that "homosexual behavior is immoral," according to the suit, which was filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles by the Alliance Defense Fund, based in Arizona.

The school district will not comment on legal matters.

POSTED: 9:33 am PDT September 16, 2004
UPDATED: 9:34 am PDT September 16, 2004


SAN DIEGO -- A free speech battle at Poway High School goes before a federal judge today, 10News reported.

The federal suit said sophomore Chase Harper, 16, was suspended for expressing his "sincerely held religious beliefs," 10News reported.

Harper wore the shirt during and after the April 21 "Day of Silence," a national event held on high school and college campuses to protest discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students. The T-shirt had the words, "I Will Not Accept What God Has Condemned" hand-written on the front and "Homosexuality is Shameful" on the back.

When Harper wore a similar shirt the next day, a teacher told him he was violating the school dress code and must remove the shirt or go to the office.

The suit contends the school's assistant principal said the shirt violated the code because it had homemade printing and was inflammatory. Harper was suspended after refusing to remove it.

But, according to 10News, other local school districts have similar policies regarding dress. For example, Sweetwater Union's dress and grooming policy states "clothing must not present ... a distraction which interferes with the education process." It goes on to say "no student shall ... wear clothing ... which express or advocate racial, ethnic, or religious prejudice."

Harper is suing for $25,000 in damage, claiming the school violated his freedom of speech.

The Poway Unified School District wants the judge to throw out the lawsuit.

Harper is a Christian who believes that "homosexual behavior is immoral," according to the suit, which was filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles by the Alliance Defense Fund, based in Arizona.

Sure.... go ahead and allow people like this to wear shirts like that. What's next?

"Anti-homo Christians are rat bastards"

Oh.... but I'm just expressing myself... freedom of speech!!

That's ridiculous. Religious beliefs can be practised, but you don't have to go about with it emblazoned across your chest. They wouldn't let a Nazi go to school with "Kill all Jews" on his shirt. It's all the same, it's all religious persecution. Good on them for suspending this kid.

What do his parents have to say about all this? I mean this kid is only 16, probably brain-washed by his loony parents and then his folks get all riled up and get him to sue the school. It nuts.

I want to get a shirt that says... you know what? I feel BAD offending Christians nutjobs...

But, then, I have a conscience