School bans all student clubs rather than allow LGBT society
A school in North Carolina has opted to ban all students groups, rather than allow students to form an LGBT club.
Students at Lake Lure Classical Academy had asked permission to form a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Club.
However, local parents swamped the school with complaints after news of the club got out – with one grandmother complaining she had to explain what “gay” meant to a child.
According to the The Daily Courier of Forest City, tensions were high at the school’s board of directors meeting last week, when the issue came to a head.
After anger from parents, teachers, and pastors, the school board incredibly voted not just to ban the group, but to suspend all clubs at the school until further notice.
Visual arts teacher Layne Long had allowed students to hold her club in her classroom.
She said: “This is not a religious club. This is a human rights club.
“My father is a Christian and I’ve been brought up to understand that God is love. Jesus wants to help people.”
School Director Jessica Boland expressed dismay at the decision to ban all clubs, saying: “From the school side, when you are in the school community, the issues aren’t as prevalent as the outside community is making it.
“I find it disappointing that we have to suspend all clubs.”
The new rules also bans student groups from putting up posters, unless they have been ‘approved’.