By Jim Brown and Allie Martin
January 29, 2003

(AgapePress) - A small Kentucky school district is standing by its decision to ban all student clubs, and says it intends to fight a federal lawsuit brought on by a pro-homosexual group.

The American Civil Liberties Union recently filed a lawsuit on behalf of seven members of Boyd County High School's Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) Club, claiming the Boyd County school system violated the law by barring the GSA from meeting on campus. The suit alleges Boyd County's ban on non-curricular clubs violates the Federal Equal Access Act, the Kentucky Education Reform Act, and the U.S. Constitution. [See Related Story]

But Boyd County school board member Teresa Cornette says the clubs had become a barrier to student learning.

"[We are] temporarily putting on hold all clubs until they can come up with a definition, a mission, and a goal, and show how it's aligned to the curriculum," she says. "I don't think we had any other choice but to do that."

Cornette is hoping for a peaceful resolution to the controversy. "I would hope that we can reinstate all of our curriculum clubs and that all the other clubs -- for instance the GSA, the Bible Club, the Pep Club, whatever -- they could have their club," she says.

"I'm hoping that it's outside of our school district [and] they can meet somewhere else and have their clubs, because these things are important."

Local opposition to the GSA club appears to be strong. Cornette adds that Boyd County High School has been plagued by poor student performance, noting the state has already conducted a Level 2 audit of the school's curriculum.

Last week, the ACLU filed a similar lawsuit against a school in Klein, Texas, that did not approve the application of a lesbian student who wanted to start a Gay Straight Alliance club.

Pro-Homosexual Bills Stalled
Meanwhile, lawmakers in one state have decided against trying to pass a homosexual rights law -- for the time being.

Although liberal Democrats gained control of both legislative houses and the governorship of Maine in the last election, pro-homosexual politicians have shelved bills that would have granted special rights based on sexual orientation.

Organized campaigns by conservative Christian activists are credited with halting the proposed bills. The Christian Civic League, the Christian Coalition of Maine, and the Maine Grassroots Coalition led the opposition to the homosexual activism.

Michael Heath, executive director of the Christian Civic League of Maine, says the situation should be an encouragement to other states that taking on the issue works.

In 1998 Maine became the first state in the nation to overturn a homosexual rights law passed by the state legislature. Three years ago, voters rejected an attempt to resurrect the law.

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