File this one under the "Well, duh!" category. A federal judge
ruled today that an Orange County school district doesn't have the right to out students to their parents without their permission.
"We are pleased that the court recognized that the school does not have the automatic right to disclose a student's sexual orientation just because that student is out of the closet to his or her friends at school," said Christine P. Sun, a staff attorney for the ACLU.
Crossposted at The Big Gay Picture
This high school is a piece of work. Not only did the school out Charlene Nguon, but they also continuously disciplined her for displaying affection with her girlfriend, something straight students do all the time. Half-way through Charlene's junior year, the high school said either Charlene, a straight A honor student, or her girlfriend had to leave the school. Because they were publicly affectionate! Come on! You can't make stuff like this up. Charlene wound up leaving the school, but has since been allowed to return although other aspects of the case remain unresolved.
It's thanks to the godless heathens over at the ACLU that Charlene received any measure of justice. It's bad enough that GLBT students have to put up with harassment from other students, but from the administration? That's just unconscionable. In some ways life is so much better for gay kids today. I would have been pounded into paste showing affection to a same-sex partner. But these kids also seem caught in a between place--they know they are gay and are comfortable with it, yet they still face a helluva lot of discrimination. Hats off to Charlene for fighting back.