A federal appeals court has upheld a previous ruling that permitted a student at Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville to wear a T-shirt critical of homosexuality.
After the school allowed students in 2006 to participate in an annual Day of Silence to promote tolerance of homosexuals, a student wore a T-shirt that stated, "Be Happy, Not Gay."
School officials objected and first changed the words on the shirt to say, "Be Happy, Be Straight." Then they changed it to just, "Be Happy."
"A school that permits advocacy of the rights of homosexual students cannot be allowed to stifle criticism of homosexuality," the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit said in an opinion released Tuesday.
"People in our society do not have a legal right to prevent criticism of their beliefs or their way of life," the court said.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-antigay-shirt-0302-20110301,0,180369.story
The ACLU filed a brief opposing freedom of speech, what a surprise.
After the school allowed students in 2006 to participate in an annual Day of Silence to promote tolerance of homosexuals, a student wore a T-shirt that stated, "Be Happy, Not Gay."
School officials objected and first changed the words on the shirt to say, "Be Happy, Be Straight." Then they changed it to just, "Be Happy."
"A school that permits advocacy of the rights of homosexual students cannot be allowed to stifle criticism of homosexuality," the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit said in an opinion released Tuesday.
"People in our society do not have a legal right to prevent criticism of their beliefs or their way of life," the court said.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-antigay-shirt-0302-20110301,0,180369.story
The ACLU filed a brief opposing freedom of speech, what a surprise.