Students Sue Over High School Speech Code

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that on Wednesday three high school students, represented by the Alliance Defense Fund, filed a federal lawsuit against the Downingtown (Pennsylvania) Area School District, claiming that they were barred from displaying the words "Christian" and "Bible". The students, who wanted to call their school group the "Bible Club," were told it had to be called "the Prayer Club" instead. In addition, they allege that they were barred from expressing their views on the "sinful nature and harmful effects of homosexuality." District policy prohibits students from expressing opinions that seek "to establish the supremacy of a particular religious denomination, sect or point of view." The lawsuit alleges that the Downingtown East High School students want to express their belief "that there is a superior religious point of view to other competing views that would, for example, affirm a homosexual lifestyle." The high school's speech code is similar to others that ADF has challenged on the college level.