The mother of 16-year-old Maverick Couch filed the federal lawsuit on his behalf against Wayne Local School District and the principal of Waynesville High School, northeast of Cincinnati.
Couch is a junior at the public school. His lawsuit says he’s been threatened with suspension if he wears a shirt bearing the message “Jesus Is Not a Homophobe.” The lawsuit says school officials told him the shirt is “sexual in nature” and inappropriate.
I find this interesting for two reasons, neither of which having to do with the specific subject matter. First, I think it’s going to be spectacular to hear the school defend its stupid position that the shirt is somehow sexual. Second, students are usually denied basic rights in school because, well, fuck ’em, amirite? I would be mildly surprised to see Couch win this. And, of course, I hope he does.
Filed under: Politics and Social | Tagged: Jesus is not a homophobe, Maverick Couch, Waynesville High School |
For the Sake of Science 
He would have exposed their stupidity even more clearly had the shirt said, “Jesus Is not a Homophone”.
I’m surprised they are trying to claim the issue is “sexual in nature”. The usual argument why kids are treated like second class citizens is that is “disruptive to the learning process”.
Usually that argument is stupid, but it makes sense and I have particular problem with that 1st amendment restriction. It’s not that much different from laws that make it illegal to protest in a way that directly disrupts the functions of government or private individuals.
I don’t think many are against barring protests in the Capital Building, so if something actually disrupts the ability of Congress to do it’s job (get into the House chamber for example), it should be banned or restricted. Likewise, if students were not compelled to go to school I can support bans on things that interfere with the schools function.
A tee shirt such as this in no way does that, but than again, most of the stuff schools ban using that claim has no effect on the learning environment.
Like going to school naked, that would be disruptive. Screaming slogans in the middle of a class, also disruptive. Calling the teacher a moron in the middle of class, etc etc, all things that harm other students by disrupting, so I can support bans like that. This Jesus tee shirt thing is ridiculous, wearing a swastika armband, that’s disruptive, this tee shirt, not even a little disruptive.
(although maybe it is being disruptive, but the school has made that the case, not the tee shirt.)