Lambda Legal Says Public Schools Must Allow GLSEN’s Day of Silence Activities

(Fort Myers, FL Friday, April 19, 2013) — For the past two years, Lambda Legal has filed lawsuits on behalf of students who were denied the right to participate in GLSEN’s Day of Silence, the annual anti-bullying observance in support of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students at their schools. Today in celebration of GLSEN’s National Day of Silence, Lambda Legal issued the following statement from Beth Littrell, Staff Attorney for Lambda Legal:

"Every year, we get reports from students across the country who are told they cannot participate in GLSEN’s Day of Silence. Last year, Lambda Legal advocated in more than 100 schools around the nation to support students who had initially been blocked from participating in the GLSEN’s Day of Silence. Most schools respond to our letters by respecting students’ rights to participate, but unfortunately, in the past two years, we have had to proceed to litigation.

"Last year, we filed a lawsuit on behalf of Maverick Couch, an openly gay junior  in Ohio who was threatened with suspension  for wearing a T-shirt bearing the message "Jesus Is Not a Homophobe," on GLSEN’s Day of Silence. Maverick won the right to wear his T-shirt to school any day he chooses.

"On February 26 of this year, Lambda Legal filed suit on behalf of Amber Hatcher, an openly lesbian 16-year-old who was punished for participating in GLSEN’s Day of Silence last year. The school district changed its position as a result of the litigation, but the case continues in order to ensure that the policy or practice invoked last year by school officials to interfere with Day of Silence activities is declared unconstitutional so that the school district cannot again deny its students’ constitutional rights.

"We’re glad that Amber and other students will be able to participate in GLSEN’s Day of Silence this year. Today, Amber joins thousands of students across the country who will take some form of a vow of silence to call attention to the silencing effect of anti-LGBT bullying and harassment in schools. The message for schools across the country should be clear—adopt and follow policies that respect all students.

"This is an important first step, but a student’s First Amendment rights are not restricted to one day a year. Amber and Maverick are just two of countless young people across the country who wish to attend school without fear of harassment and bullying—Lambda Legal will support them 365 days a year."

Take action: Support Amber’s right to take a stand against bullying and harassment!
http://www.lambdalegal.org/petition/hatcher-student-free-speech

The case is Hatcher v. Desoto County Board of Education, et al.

For more information on the case, click here http://www.lambdalegal.org/in-court/cases/hatcher-v-desoto-cty-bd-of-ed

For more information about GLSEN’s Day of Silence click here http://www.dayofsilence.org/