Lawsuit Alleges Christian Student Discriminated Against During Diversity Week

[John Harrell <johnbharrell@yahoo.com>]

Here's another lawsuit filed by the Thomas Moore Law Center on July 10, 2002. 
This lawsuit seems to show intolerant tolerance can be. Some views must be stifled,
shouted down, removed from the public.

------------------------ [excerpt - see link for complete press release]
http://www.thomasmore.org/index.cfm?location=5&subsectionid=1&PageID=1&release=138

PRESS RELEASE [excerpt]

Michigan Public School Pushes Homosexual Agenda and Censors 
Christian Speech During "Diversity Week"

Thomas More Law Center
July 10, 2002

(Ann Arbor)--A controversy over school-sponsored activities designed to promote 
the homosexual agenda and the school’s censorship of a Christian student’s speech 
critical of homosexual activity have resulted in a federal lawsuit. The Thomas More 
Law Center filed the civil rights lawsuit on behalf of the student, Betsy Hansen, 
and her mother against the Ann Arbor Public Schools and several of its administrators 
and faculty members who work at Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Betsy 
and her mother are devout Roman Catholics who object to the school promoting activity
that is contrary to their religious beliefs. Betsy graduated this past June from 
Pioneer High with the highest honors; she has a brother and a sister who will be 
attending Pioneer High School this Fall. 

During Pioneer High’s “2002 Diversity Week,” held this past March, the school sponsored 
various events, including student speeches given at an all school assembly and panel 
discussions on various issues such as race, religion, and “Homosexuality and Religion.” 
Although Betsy was permitted to give a speech during the student assembly, she was 
required to submit her speech to school officials for their prior approval. School 
officials removed all references critical of homosexual activity. 

Also during this week, certain school officials jointly agreed to prevent Betsy from 
expressing her Roman Catholic view on homosexuality at the “Homosexuality and Religion” 
panel. School officials claimed that Betsy’s religious view toward homosexuality was 
a “negative” message and would “water-down” the “positive” religious message that 
they wanted to convey; that is, that homosexual behavior and religion are compatible, 
and that homosexual behavior is not immoral or sinful. 

In order to further achieve their purpose with this panel discussion, school officials 
selected and invited certain religious leaders and clergy members who would promote 
and endorse their pro-homosexual “religious” belief. School officials denied Betsy’s 
request to have panel members present who would express the Roman Catholic belief on 
homosexual activity. School officials also pre-screened questions for the panel 
members, selected the faculty advisor for the Gay Straight Alliance to act
as “moderator,” prohibited “open” questions to panel members, and expressly prohibited
the students from personally interacting with any panel member before, during, or 
after the panel discussion. 

{snip.. see URL for complete press release}



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