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    Teen Wins Case Over School District Save Email Print
    Posted: 5:55 PM May 14, 2008
     Last Updated: 5:55 PM May 14, 2008
    11 comments
    A | A | A

    A federal judge's decision in regard to a Northwest Florida teenager's lawsuit has made headlines nationwide.

    Heather Gillman has won her federal lawsuit against Ponce de Leon High School Principal David Davis and the Holmes County school district.

    A Panama City federal judge has ruled the school has violated Gillman's first amendment right of free speech. Gillman's suit claimed she and other students were prohibited from wearing rainbow clothing in support for the fair treatment of gays and lesbians.

    The suit itself was brought by the American Civil Liberties Union.

    News 4 was unsuccessful in attempts to contact Holmes County School Superintendent Steven Griffin concerning the federal judge's ruling allowing homosexual symbols in the schools.
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    Posted by: KB Location: Ozark, AL on May 16, 2008 at 12:58 PM
    Listen i went to school with these kids.. i graduated in 2006.. and i think it is sooo disgusting lesbians.. come on. yeah you should be able to have freedom but i mean lesbians.. its embarrising to even see this in my home town. im glad i moved away and i don't go to school with these fools.. like i said its nasty. and i think these people should definetly read the bible. and i agree with the other comment. why can't people were rebel flag shirts, mexican flags, or anything liket hat but can FREAKIN SUPPORT GAY RIGHTS.. how ridiculous its embarrssing.
    Posted by: Ann Location: Georgia on May 15, 2008 at 01:51 PM
    What a sad day for our children. My prayer is that these young people and parents will realize that they are condoning what God calls an abomination. Christians don't hate gays and lesbians they hate the sin. It is sin, read the Word of God and He will reveal it to you. May God have mercy on their souls.
    Posted by: cork Location: bonifay fl on May 15, 2008 at 01:37 PM
    this is the reason this worlds come to what it is today.we have no RESPECT FOR ANYONE OR OTHERS the children today are taught thay gay is the way look on telivision and what garbage it portrays for our kids of what is "right" SHAME ON THE PARENTS OF THIS GENERATION FOR SPARING THE ROD AND SPOILING THE CHILD
    Posted by: Concerned Parent of Student Location: Westville, FL on May 15, 2008 at 01:09 PM
    My children and I don't walk around with articles of clothing that declare we are STRAIGHT! Who cares, school is not the place for this.I don't think this is about freedom of speech. This comes down to students that evidently have no respect for authority. I guarantee they don't respect their parents or elders. If more parents would hold the kids responsible for their actions we would not be in this situation. They would have shut their mouths and went back to class. I don't always agree with the teachers but I DO teach mine to respect them. I say the school board should just change the dress code to uniforms and then we can kill two birds with on stone.(This crap and other dress code issues) By the way I bet the parents didn't have to pay for the attorney fees either!!
    Posted by: renee Location: chancellor, al on May 15, 2008 at 09:59 AM
    In the end right will be wrong and wrong will be right. Hold fast to your faith. The ones that know right from wrong will reap rewards in heaven! As for the ones that believe wrong is right, all we can do is pray for each of them.
    Posted by: L Location: Alabama on May 15, 2008 at 09:56 AM
    This ruling helps to uphold & protect the rights of ALL of us to express our ideas, even when others disagree. That includes Heather AND all of the people who posted ahead of me. WE, as Americans, can believe & speak in support of, whatever we choose. You don't like Gay people, or Christian people, or fat people? Fine, nobody says you have to. However, the law says, and this judge upheld, that you can NOT mistreat them nor deny them their basic constitutional rights. THATS the jist of this story. The principal and the school board had trampled on the rights of the students & it's unacceptable. By the way, prayer is STILL in schools, on t-shirts, on notebooks, and most importantly, in hearts. It's just not FORCED by the school administration as it once was. We are a diverse people. We should respect each other even if we don't agree with each other. Gay people don't want special rights, just equal rights. By the way, good Christians, what happened to "love one another" & "judge not"?
    Posted by: Hartford on May 15, 2008 at 08:54 AM
    HEY SAMSON I AGREE WITH YOU MAYBE WE SHOULD TAKE SOME ACTION FOR OUR RIGHTS ON RELEIGON AND AGAINST ALL WE DONOT BELIVE IN AND STAND UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT AND WHAT WE BELIVE IN AND I THINK IT IS TIME WE STAND UP FOR OUR GOD AND OUR BIBLE AND WHAT IT SAYS..PEOPLE BETTER GET ON THEIR KNEES AND START ASKING FOR FORGIVENESS FOR THIS BUNCH OF STUPID STUFF GOING ON..PEOPLE WAKE UP READ YOUR BIBLE..WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME....
    Posted by: Karla Location: Bartow, FL on May 15, 2008 at 08:42 AM
    Shame on Heather's parents for not teaching their child that although tolerance of others is a good trait, support of their poor choices is not ! The Rainbow is a sign of God's promise to his people and it is such a sacralidge that it is now a symbol for such as this.
    Posted by: annie Location: Geneva on May 15, 2008 at 07:50 AM
    What is happening? How could a JUDGE allow this type of activity in our schools--what would happen if other students protested against the rainbow clothing? PARENTS--what are our children learning in school? If these students wanted to wear the rainbow clothing---KEEP it out of the schools---IS this not encouraging students to explore --it is TOTALLY disgusting. What happened to the rules in their student Handbook regarding dress code--?????? REALLY REALLY PRAY
    Posted by: Hartford on May 15, 2008 at 07:05 AM
    TAKE GOD OUT OF THE SCHOOL BUT TO ALLOW THIS.. I THINK THIS IS SICK..!!!!AND WE WONDER WHY THE WORLD IS GOING TO HELL IN A HAND BASKET.......
    Posted by: Lois Location: Samson AL on May 14, 2008 at 10:31 PM
    It is such a shame that children can wear this type of clothing and not wear cothing supporting their releigon or a flag of their country and no pray in schools maybe we should be taking this type of action and get prayer back in schools. Lets pray for our leaders.
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