School District
Settles Gay Rights Suit
By AP from
cbs4denver.com from the Web, November 29, 2005
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.,
Nov.22 -- Colorado Springs School District 11 has agreed to settle a lawsuit
filed on behalf of students by the American Civil Liberties Union after the
Gay-Straight Alliance group was denied certain privileges at Palmer High School.
The school board approved the settlement Monday by a 6-1 vote. The
district will pay $90,000 in attorney's fees and fully recognize the alliance
and other student groups not directly related to curriculum.
Alfred McDonnell, the students' lawyer, said he was pleased with the settlement
because it gives the club the same rights as others.
District lawyer Eric Bentley said the district didn't believe it discriminated
against the students, but decided to settle because the lawsuit was financially
draining.
"The district defended the case all that time because it believed in the
policy," he said. "It's simply become extremely expensive."
Palmer High School had created a two-track system for student groups.
Groups deemed to be related to the curriculum were allowed to use the public
address system and post notices. Organizations deemed to have no direct
connection to curriculum -- including the Gay-Straight Alliance -- could meet at
the school but not use the PA system or post notices.
The federal lawsuit was filed in 2003, arguing the policy was discriminatory and
other clubs not related to curriculum, such as the Mountain Biking Club, were
given more privileges.
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