‘Violates the constitution' Shelby student sues school board for shutting down LGBTQ+ game
A student is suing her school board after she said she tried to host a game for her club that highlighted the LGBTQ+ community.
She said the board ultimately shut the game down and called it inappropriate.
Channel 9′s Ken Lemon spoke with that student's attorney about why they are taking this issue to court.
The 17-year-old student explained that she presented the game created on PowerPoint last spring and said it has '. . . no depiction of sex, violence, illegal drug use, or anything else that could possibly justify its censorship.'
ALSO READ: United Methodists repeal longstanding ban on LGBTQ clergy
However, the principal opposed the game at the time and then again in the fall.
According to the lawsuit, the liaison to the school board told the student's father that the game violated the North Carolina Parents Bill of Rights law, which '. . . prohibits instruction on sexuality, sex activity, and gender identity in school.'
The family said they were then later told that '. . . it was determined that the suggested game was indecent based on community standards.'
The student's attorney, Ivy Johnson, said keeping the game out of school violates the constitution.
'To suggest that a quiz game that acknowledges LGBTQ+ people and their contributions to society is indecent is dangerous and is a violation of this student's First Amendment rights,' said Johnson.
ALSO READ: Trump signs executive order intended to bar transgender athletes from girls' and women's sports
Lifelong Shelby resident Mike Willis said he agreed with the school board, stating, 'I don't think it ought to be in the school.'
However, Shelby High School student Dennis McClain disagreed with that sentiment, saying he believed the student who was suing had the right to create an educational game for students in the Activism Club.
'I think they deserve to do it. It's only a club thing. It has nothing to do with the whole school,' McClain explained.
Channel 9 has reached out to the school's superintendent, as well as the school's attorney for comment but has not heard back.
The suit, filed in Asheville, just seeks to follow the student to play the game on campus.
VIDEO: United Methodists repeal longstanding ban on LGBTQ clergy
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
2 hours ago
- CBS News
Thousands descend on downtown Denver for "No Kings" rally
Saturday, thousands of people descended on downtown Denver to exercise their First Amendment right. It was Denver's "No Kings" rally. One in a series of nationwide protests where attendees voiced their opposition to the Trump administration and its policies. Hundreds of similar protests took place nationwide, scheduled for the same day as a military parade in Washington, D.C. to celebrate the Army's 250th anniversary and the president's birthday. It seems everyone had their own reason for showing up. "It's really important that we're keeping families together," said a woman who only wished to be identified as Jasmine. "I'm really concerned about women's rights," said a woman who only wished to be identified as Leslie. "Your people voted for you. It's time to serve your people," said an unidentified woman. But no matter what issue was on the top of their list, all demonstrators agreed on one thing. They don't like President Trump. "Trump is a felon. He's in office, and he said that he was going to go after criminals and deport the criminals, but in reality, he seems to be deporting a lot of innocent people," said Jasmine. "Donald Trump has to go," said Leslie. This is Leslie's second protest ever. She says she wasn't sure she was going to come at first. "I come from the sixties and seventies, and the sixties and seventies were violent times, so I was a little scared to come, but my friend here said 'come' so I did and I'm glad I did," she said. "The first one was nothing compared to this. This is huge." Jasmine says this isn't just about disliking President Trump, it's about loving where she's from, the United States of America. "We're all here. We're all trying to do something good for this country," she said. "I think it's amazing the sense of community that's here right now is really cool." She and the rest of Saturday's demonstrators say they hope this sends a message to Washington, D.C., and President Trump that the people of Denver want change. "I do not think he will listen to us, but I think it's necessary. He can't ignore it completely," said Leslie. The protests come just one week after protests against ICE broke out across the country, but those weren't connected to today's events. Nearly 2,000 "No Kings" speeches and marches were planned by volunteers through 50501, a movement that has held numerous national days of protest this year. The name stands for 50 states, 50 protests, one movement. The White House's Rapid Response 47 account on X shared a video of the president responding to questions about Saturday's planned rallies. "I don't feel like a king," Trump said. "I have to go through hell to get stuff approved." He told reporters, "We're not a king, we're not a king at all." "CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED. LONG LIVE THE KING!" –President Donald J. Trump — The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 19, 2025 In February, the president caused a stir on social media when the official White House social media accounts posted a mock cover of Time Magazine depicting Trump wearing a crown along with the words "Long live the king."
Boston Globe
4 hours ago
- Boston Globe
Trump vs. Harvard: Key hearing on student visa block set for Monday
It is 'well within the President's constitutional and statutory authority to govern the immigration and foreign affairs of the nation,' government lawyers wrote. 'That should be the end of this case.' Advertisement They also urged the court to reject Harvard's claims that Trump's order is discriminatory, violates the First Amendment, and would cause the university 'irreparable harm' if enacted. International students make up more than 27 percent of Harvard's total enrollment. Trump has repeatedly targeted the elite university since returning to the White House in January by Related : Trump's actions at Harvard and other elite schools are part of a larger effort to remake the higher education system, which he perceives to be a bastion of leftist bias, antisemitism, and discrimination against white people and men. Related : The hearing is set to begin Monday at 10:30 a.m. before US District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs, Advertisement If Harvard's latest request is granted, the order would extend temporary protections preserving the status quo that were enacted last Thursday. The legal fight over international students began last month when Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem Related : Harvard challenged the revocation in court and was granted temporary protections, but then Trump shifted tactics. On June 4, Trump also directed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to review the status of current international students on a case-by-case basis to determine whether their visas should be revoked. Related : On Friday, Maureen Martin, who directs immigration services for the Harvard International Office, described the toll of Trump's actions on visa holders who planned to study or work at the university. In a court filing, Martin said an engineering scholar from China and another visa holder from India were turned back at Logan International Airport on June 5 and 6 because of Trump's proclamation. After the court blocked implementation of the order, the Washington Post Related : Advertisement A visa appointment for a visiting professor in Israel was canceled and an unidentified consulate refused to issue a visa to the chief executive of an executive education program affiliated with Harvard Medical School, Martin wrote. After the visa denial, the program canceled its partnership with the school, she said. Laura Crimaldi can be reached at
Indianapolis Star
5 hours ago
- Indianapolis Star
'No Kings' protest sights in Lafayette and West Lafayette
From families expressing their First Amendment rights to a Purdue student dressed as George Washington, marchers came in all formers at "No Kings" protest.
