Gay Student Sues School District for Banning His ‘Jesus Is Not a Homophobe’ T-Shirt
- Posted on April 4, 2012 at 7:01am by
Billy Hallowell
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CINCINNATI (The Blaze/AP) — A gay student whose southwest Ohio high school prohibited him from wearing a t-shirt designed to urge tolerance of gays is suing the school, saying it’s violating his freedom of expression rights.
This photo released by Lambda Legal shows Maverick Couch Tuesday, April 3, 2012 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Couch, a gay student whose southwest Ohio high school prohibited him from wearing a T-shirt designed to urge tolerance of gays is suing the school, saying it's violating his freedom of expression right. (AP Photo/Lambda Legal)
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 t-shirt, as MSNBC notes, is “emblazoned with a colorful logo of a fish traditionally used as a Christian symbol, as well as the slogan in large bold text.”
The lawsuit says school officials told him the shirt is “sexual in nature” and inappropriate.
“I don’t think the shirt is sexual at all. I don’t know how they can say that,” Couch has responded. “I don’t think it’s indecent.”
The Cincinnati.com has more about the t-shirt in question:
Maverick Couch wants to wear the shirt in his Warren County school on April 20 to show support for the Day of Silence, a national event that draws attention to the silencing of gay and lesbian students through bullying. [...]
Couch, 17, said he tried to wear the shirt last spring for the Day of Silence and on several other occasions, but school Principal Randy Gebhardt repeatedly rejected his request.
Image Credit: Lamba Legal
The lawsuit asks that school officials be ordered to allow Couch to wear the shirt. It also seeks unspecified damages.
School district Superintendent Patrick Dubbs said Tuesday he hadn‘t seen the lawsuit and couldn’t extensively comment on the matter.
“We’re in the business of education and our main concern is maintaining an environment that is conducive to education,” he said. “We want our kids to be able to come to school and learn.”
Lamba Legal, an organization that fights for the civil rights of gays and lesbians, has launched a petition in support of Couch.
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Comments (164)
mikenleeds
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 9:18ami can t stand to look at that little puck , sick-o
Report Post »Waterlylys
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 9:14amI once said that Jesus was a homosapien and was castigated severely. Look it up! Since Jesus cavorted with prostitutes, tax collectors, and all manner of sinners without consideration of defilement, I have no doubt that Jesus was not a homophobe. He calls all people to himself. He calls us all in our culture to leave our culture and join HIS culture (not a political culture). For those of you who will impugn my credentials, I am a Christian, conservative, pro-life, White, heterosexual, married to a man, female. I will state this student’s freedom of speech is being trampled on, and his shirt is not offensive.
Report Post »4truth2all
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 9:21amWhy is it NOT offensive ?
Report Post »Luke21
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 9:39am@Water
Well said
@4truth2all
Because it is true — Jesus is not “homophobic” (whatever the made up word is meant to imply). However while the shirt is true, it is only half true. Jesus accepted sinners (including homosexuals) — He died a substitutionary death for them. However, He did NOT die that death so that sinners could simply remain in & revel in their sin. He would tell this young man (& his misguiding mother) to REPENT. See John chapter 8. Paul in Romans 1 makes it clear that w/out repentance, he remains under the judgment of a Holy & Righteous God. So the shirt is not offensive, its only half a truth, & we know where 1/2 truths come from when it comes to quoting the Word of God.
Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” …
Report Post »4truth2all
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 11:16amYo Luke21:
I did not directly ask you but that’s fine. I hate being “talked at”, and that is why I asked the question to Waterlylys.
Forgive me, but I am confussed by you’re reply … you mention half truths and that the shirt is an example of one, but you also state the purpose of a half truth, that being to deceive. How then can a tee shirt with a half truth that directly goes against scripture be good. I am aware of the scripture … thank you very much …. this shirt actually is an open invitation to THE TRUTH to be shared with this individual whom has the right to wear it.
You can actually find the colors of the specturm (as on the fish) in flames !!!
Report Post »Luke21
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 9:18am@4truth2all
Good point. Sorry for talking at you – or answering you, since it wasn’t me that you asked the question of. I also apologize for the confusing statement. There you are also correct. What I was trying to get at was that Christ would accept the kid, but not his sin – the satement that “Jesus is not homophobe” is not of itself untrue (obviously that is not the heart behind the tee-shirt – just as the scripture Satan used to test the Lord in the desert wasn’t untrue, but misapplied). However I strongly suspect that Jesus’ reaction toward him would be quite different than most of ours (myself included).
In regards to the flames, hopefully you have the same heart toward this badly misled kid (sinner) & screwed up mother (sinner) as the Lord Himself does. Then you’ll be worthy to preach the eternal flames of hell to him & his kind. Grace & Peace of the Lord Jesus Christ to you.
Report Post »4truth2all
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 12:07pmYo Luke21:
Thankyou, but there was no need to apologize. I do believe the same Spirit guides us both. My point about the flames was only a recognition of truth which the shirt completely ignors and I/you understand is a deception of our enemy in which we are called to expose. I tell people about hell not to condemn but because I do not want them to end up there and teenagers especially so because I work with them and they have NO CHANCE against the enemies darkness least someone shed some light … peace.
Report Post »PonyCar67
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 9:09amI agree he wasn’t, but he sure as heck didn’t approve. Look what his Father did to the city from which we derive the term sodomy. CHRIST LOVED ALL PEOPLE, but that didn’t mean he accepts all behavior. If that kid wants to try using Jesus in his propaganda, it should be banned in school, a location the Christians are banned from expressing any such opposing view. That is the freedom of speech issue here.
Report Post »4truth2all
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 9:09amYo Spankthemonkey:
Concerning the target practice comment …. you might what to consider that you’re final, perminent, eternal destination will be hangin out with them if you’re attitude is such.
I love the tee-shirt … it is an open invitation to tell him what Christ REALLY say’s. Not put itching powder in his underware in gym class, and then laugh at his discomfort.
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 8:49am.
THXll38
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 8:31am
Because they have to tolerate morons like you.
Why the Hate you Gay?….I’m sorry if I hurt your feeling……I’ll get you a tissue……
Report Post »Judeo_Christian
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 8:47amThe gay agenda has slapped both sides of my face and kicked me in the butt. I don’t have any more cheeks to turn. Indeed, Jesus Christ loved all of man, however he abhorred all of man’s sin.
It would not be charitable to confirm man his sin. It is right and appropriate to rebuke the stance promoted on his shirt.
Report Post »Liberal_Teacher
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 8:51amRebuke it all you want, but the First Amendment is really clear on this point: he can wear the shirt.
Report Post »Locked
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 9:11am@Liberal_Teacher
“Rebuke it all you want, but the First Amendment is really clear on this point: he can wear the shirt.”
Actually, it very much depends on the school’s rules. If the shirt is a distraction from the lessons, could cause conflict, or is offensive, it can very well be banned. I disagree with the school’s assessment that it is sexual in nature; but I could easily see how overt religious references that are sure to rile people up could be considered anathema to a productive learning environment. In the same way, a shirt quoting Leviticus or saying “Repent or Burn” or somesuch should also be banned.
Report Post »Judeo_Christian
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 10:22amThere are even limits that the first Ammendment does not allow. You would be screaming at the top of your lungs is a student came in with a t-shirt with a picture of a torn apart baby after an abortion with an anti-abortion slogan.
Schools have always had dress codes.
Report Post »Fletcher13
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 12:28pmSo, the First Amendment allows me to wear a shirt to school that says, “God Hates ****”? Or will Liberals contend that the First Amendment does not work for me?
Report Post »Moozmom
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 8:40amLet’s see now – it’s acceptable for our children to read and study about homosexual lifestyles from kindergarten through senior year. It is not acceptable to place the word homophobe on a shirt. That was the word in question, wasn’t it? Oh, no? Oh, I see Jesus was the problem word.
Report Post »FYI-Jesus loves homosexuals. Jesus loves us all.
The school systems worship Baal. Look it up.
Itsjusttim
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 8:48amI love my thieving, cussing, vandalizing, complete disrespect for authority cousin too, but I’m not going to let him in my house to destroy my house.
Report Post »THXll38
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 8:31amBecause they have to tolerate morons like you. It is not abut tolerating, it is about equality. You know like back in the 50-60s during the civil rights movements towards minorities and women. But then again, you are most likely a social con that thinks women are only good for three things — cooking, cleaning, and child birth. No need to be a ***** or scared — they will not harm you, nor will they destroy your petty little ideas on how Americans should live or act.
Report Post »Git-R-Done
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 3:33amYet tolerance is a one way street with you social liberals. You demand everybody else to be tolerant of you but you don’t have to be tolerant of others.
Report Post »quigonpaj
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 1:31pmIt sounds an awful lot like you are making a straw man. There is nothing about reverse intolerance. In act, pointing to such an ambiguous claim is essentially admitting that you either have no legitimate defense of your bigotry, no cogent understanding of your own religious savior, or want to employ the odd defense of “well, they are jerks, so HA, I am gonna be one too!”
I’m sure Jesus would be very proud of you.
Report Post »Locked
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 8:29amI think saying the shirt is sexual in nature is a pretty blatant lie. Now, banning it because it could cause a distraction? That would make sense.
Report Post »StonyBurk
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 8:45amI agree-Locked– Because Jesus is Not a homophobe. Neither are any who are Christian and disagree with the infidelity and fornication –and rebellion against God that cannot be divorced from the homosexual lifestyle choice. Jesus dis speak against Fornication,and adultery, and did clearly teach that not one jot nor tittle of the Law would pass until ALL was fulfilled. SO when someone who worships
Report Post »their body–or who lusts after unnatural and unlawful sex in defiance of Gods Law And Reason they ought accept their orientation is a way that seems right but the end thereof is death.For when a man
chooses to have sex with another man such behavior is worthy of death.
Locked
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 8:55am@Stony
“For when a man chooses to have sex with another man such behavior is worthy of death.”
… you like Sharia law by any chance?
Report Post »Brittany-Imbriaarts
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 9:17amUm no your statement is not at all homophobic Stony. (Sarcasm if you don’t get it) you claim its okay to kill a person because of who they love in your own statement. THAT is Homophobic.
Report Post »kaydeebeau
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 12:11pmSo if it isn’t sexual – what exactly is the term homophobe short for? Homosexual phobic….What makes one a homosexual – having or wanting to have sex with someone of the same gender ( **** = same) So the actual word sexual is no longer sexual? How does that work?
The base desire for the homosexual is to have societal approval for his / her sexual behavior.
Report Post »kushisaac
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 1:41pmActually, Stony is not just pulling the sanction against homosexuality out of his arse, he gets that from the word of God Lev 18:22 and Lev 20:13. Jesus being called the Word, must agree with the Word and so therefore if Stony is a homophobe for making his statement concerning the biblical sanction agaisnt homosexuality, then at least we must conclude that Jesus too, shares Stony’s homophobe tendancies for enacting the law in the first place. So, given the definition, Jesus is a homophobe.
Report Post »Locked
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 1:44pm@Kaydeebeau
“.What makes one a homosexual”
Attraction to someone of the same sex. Claiming attraction is equivalent to sex acts is blatantly false; It’s conflating two separate concepts.
“The base desire for the homosexual is to have societal approval for his / her sexual behavior.”
False. The base desire for a homosexual is inherently undefined. What being a homosexual is is simply saying they find members of the same sex attractive.
Note that you’re also wrong in saying that “sex” is inherently sexual in this case. “Sex” simply means their biology. We’d say “gender,” but gender is fluid, while sex is biologically defined.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 8:28amOf course Jesus wasn’t a homophobic, Jesus knew that gays truly have their reward, and furthermore there weren’t really many gays around back then.
Report Post »THXll38
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 8:34amLOL. That’s a good one. Gays only started sprouting up in the 60s when America started the downward spiral.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 8:35amWhy do you think they are the way they are? Because they have zero fruit, and that’s why they have to wear the rainbow of colors on the outside, there is no fruit on the inside.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 8:39amIf they want to get married let them get married, but I should warn them, they will be filled with even more discontent, because marriage isn’t meant for them.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 8:40amNo, I said their weren’t that many around back then, because there wasn’t 8 billion people in the world.
Report Post »Locked
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 8:40am“Gays only started sprouting up in the 60s when America started the downward spiral.”
Right… there was no homosexuality at all, ever, in the history of the world. Which makes perfect sense as to why the Old Testament would talk about it. Because, you know, it never existed until the 1960s.
Report Post »rfycom
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 8:27amGod put faith in your heart and common sense in your head for a reason. Maybe, just maybe, God put gay people on Earth to test your faith. Listen to what your common sense is telling you. Gay people are born that way PEOPLE.
Report Post »bay horse 1
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 8:31amGay people are born that way PEOPLE
Big piles of Male Bovine Fecal Matter…..
Report Post »Dde13
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 9:01amPeople are gay because they Choose to be. God is perfect, we are created in his image. To say that they are born that way, is just a short answer to a perverted lifestyle.
Report Post »THXll38
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 9:05amIf we are created in Gods image, we must all have a little gay in us, we have a little serial killer in us, we have a tad of fascism in us, and all the other good stuff that I see on a regular basis.
Report Post »Hrothgar
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 10:55amSaying God is perfect and we are created in his image, are contradictions wouldn’t you say? It would imply that God is also a flawed being, much like his creations. God would have to let evil survive for there to be anything good to compare it too. So you could imply that God is not truly good, but indifferent in some areas. Or he could be a gambling cat that has a wager going with Satan.
Report Post »deeberj
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 12:08pmNot everyone agrees with the theory that gay people are born that way.
Report Post »Git-R-Done
Posted on April 5, 2012 at 3:27amAnd what scientific evidence is there to show that homosexuality is born that way?
Report Post »THXll38
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 8:26amThis only bothers social cons. If conservatives were actually true constitutionalists this would not bother them. But then again, like a modern day liberals, pseudo conservatives pick and choose what they like to see and hear, and what rules to apply. Both ideologies (conservatives and modern day liberals) are nothing but statists.
Report Post »deeberj
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 12:07pmFree speech has some constraints. You can’t scream “FIRE” in a theatre. It is not against the constitution to have rules about clothing in schools. And some schools you don’t talk when classes are changing. Is that against free speech?
Some people like to think that free speech means they can say whatever they want and not have to deal with the consequences. If I want to say to my boss that she‘s an idiot and can’t do anything right and she needs me to do her job or it would not get done, that’s my right to free speech. And it’s her right to fire me.
Consequences.
Report Post »gottalovem
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 8:19amGeez..what would this clown do if his Christian classmates reversed this and showed up with t-shirts stating “Jesus deplores homos”. If the school allows him to wear this shirt, there’s nothing he and his ilk could do about it. Surely there has to be some common sense to not highlight yourself in front of your peers who don’t likely appreciate it one bit.
Report Post »Patricia4
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 12:29pmI’m sure that if someone showed up with a shirt that said, “Jesus Saves”, he would be sent home. If the shirt says something about Jesus that makes the homosexual feel good about himself it’s OK with the school, but if the shirt says something that makes him feel uncomfortable, it’s not acceptable to use the name of Jesus!!!! I‘m surprised that the school didn’t send the kid home because “Jesus” was printed on it.
Report Post »mwhaley
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 8:13amJesus might not have been a Homophobe, but His Father KIlled a lot of them. Even destroyed 2 of their cities.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 8:27amGod hates all sin, yours and mine as well as theirs. The difference is (hopefully) that we recognize our sin, ask for forgiveness and repent…they glorify theirs and act as if God has sanctioned it.
Report Post »silentme63
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 8:02amthis would be the first guy to claim my shirt JESUS IS KING offensive and cry to his Liberal friends.
Report Post »Locked
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 8:32amBut to be honest, if this shirt is deemed offensive, so would a “Jesus is King” shirt. Free speech to all, or limited speech for all. Can’t only select the messages you agree with.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 8:32amThat’s because they want to push your buttons. Don’t you understand you are on trial?
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 8:01amWow, you would never know that kid was gay by looking at him.
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 7:52amY’all… didn’t JESUS say, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother and a dauther-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a man’s foes will be those of his own household….” Matthew 10: 34-42. And, HE quotes Isaiah, “`These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ” Matthew 15: 7-9
satan perverts everything and he is on a roll right now. We need to be like Gandalf and stand, “you shall NOT PASS!”
CHRISTIANS ARE standing up. In JESUS’ sweet and mighty name, satan, you are doomed. slither back to JESUS’ face and HE will deal with you, you slimy sfbnnbswp. AMEN!
Report Post »4truth2all
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 9:18amYo Kickagrandma:
I love that moment in that movie … very powerful !!!
Report Post »SamIamTwo
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 7:43amA better T shirt, jimho, for this incident would be “Jesus hates sin, but He does love the sinner and on the back “REPENT and SIN NO MORE”…I wonder how that would go…
Report Post »unsafe
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 7:49amJust wants his 5mins.. of fame, now you have had it NOW STFU freak.
Report Post »Locked
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 8:35am@Unsafe
“Just wants his 5mins.. of fame, now you have had it NOW STFU freak.”
Ironic statement, as the kid in question wants to wear his shirt on a day of silence. The shirt would speak his views for him on that day… as, y’know, the idea of a day of SILENCE is not speaking.
Report Post »deeberj
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 12:01pmIf my son wore what you suggest to school they’d make him go home and change.
Report Post »JACKTHETOAD
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 7:31amAt least, the other guys in his gym class know who to stay away from, or shower with…
Report Post »unsafe
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 7:48amWe have a few groups of ppl getting out of hand ! Its time to stand them down. I for one dont want my kids knowing about gays until they are older.Its just like the sex crap they are teaching our kids in school at the soft age of 6yrs.
Report Post »ashestoashes
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 7:31amYou are right sweetheart…Jesus fears nothing..but he did create us and he his holy book says that fornicators. adulterers, homsexuals, drunkards, partiers and idolators will not enter the kingdom of God..He has a special place for these people who have rejected his word and it will not be a place that they are happy..please read the NKJ study bible..unless you want all of your pleasure to be on this earth only.. time passes quickly..
Report Post »kaydeebeau
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 7:28amHey Junior, Jesus, while He loves you, would not congratulate and celebrate you due to the sin you wrongfully and willfully continue in …..before invoking His name, it might serve to get to know Him and His Word a little bit better.
Report Post »sawbuck
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 7:19amOh how nice… NOW they are high-jacking the fish symbol.
Report Post »4truth2all
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 9:15amThey hijack nothing ….GOD WILL NOT BE MOCKED … in fact, scripture say’s He laughs at their mockery.
Report Post »sawbuck
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 10:53am4truth2all
Report Post »Yes I agree ..God will NOT be mocked .
They are fools.. Even though God is …slow to anger …
They are under this “ illusion” that they are… “getting away with it” .
History is repeating itself …This happened during the time of Noah too.
AND THEY ALSO SAW GODS WRATH .
SpankDaMonkey
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 7:13am.
Report Post »Get back in the closet. I’m so sick & tired of the **** Agenda……………..
1956
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 7:10amJesus loves all of us. What is hated is the sin, not the sinner.
Here we are again – taking away free speech. There is nothing offensive about the shirt. It states a fact without going any further to make it vulgar.
Report Post »Dde13
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 9:07amRight on grasshopper. We homeschool our son for this exact reaso, religion and morality. The kicker is he is getting a better aducation to boot.
Report Post »Grasshopper42
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 7:07amSick, sick, sick world. Homeschool.
Report Post »deeberj
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 11:59amHomeschool is not the solution for all. Some people can’t do it for various valid reasons.
Report Post »