Chicago Charter
School Ends Gay-Straight Battle
by 365Gay.com from
the Web, June 8, 2006
Chicago, Illinois, June 7 -- A
Chicago charter school that was the subject of a federal lawsuit has agreed to
recognize a gay student group.
Lambda Legal filed suit in April against the Noble Street Charter School when it
reneged on a promise to recognize the Gay-Straight Alliance.
The principal told the students that they could hold meetings "unofficially,"
but he forbade them from posting signs, distributing any written flyers or
having GSA meetings announced, according to the lawsuit.
The suit asserted the students' rights under the First Amendment and the Equal
Access Act, which states that secondary schools that receive federal funds and
allow non-curricular student groups to meet on campus are prohibited from
discriminating against any group based on its viewpoint.
Wednesday Lambda and the School announced they had reached a settlement to end
the suit.
Under the terms of the agreement the next three years the students will be able
to advertise their meetings across campus, continue to have access to classrooms
in the High School for meetings and events, have the opportunity to hold
fundraising activities and engage in community service, and be included as an
organization in the High School yearbook.
"Now the students participating in the GSA will be able to fulfill their mission
of having a club 'to promote awareness, safety, respect, and tolerance of all
sexual orientations in a non-judgmental environment,'" said Lambda attorney
James Madigan.
"This agreement now clearly establishes policies for all non-curriculum based
student groups at Noble Street campuses," said Michael Milkie, School
Superintendent.
|
