The Thomas More Law Center announced yesterday that it has filed a federal lawsuit against the Howell, Michigan Public School District on behalf of a high school student whose teacher removed him from class after he defended his Catholic religious views on homosexuality. The complaint (full text) in Glowacki v. Howell Public School District, (ED MI, filed 12/14/2011) alleges that defendants violated plaintiff's free expression and equal protection rights.
Oct. 20, 2010 was Spirit Day at Howell High School-- an “anti-bullying” day on which students and faculty wear purple to stop homophobia. The complaint alleges that "the purpose of the 'anti-bullying' day ... was to indoctrinate students into believing that homosexuality is normal and to shift the blame for the destructive lifestyle of homosexuals to those who believe it is wrong and immoral."
Plaintiff's run-in with his teacher began after the teacher told a female student wearing a Confederate flag belt buckle to remove it because it was offensive. Plaintiff raised his hand and asked the teacher why it was permissible to display a rainbow flag in support of LGBT rights that is offensive to some, but not a Confederate flag. The teacher asked plaintiff whether he supported gays, and plaintiff replied that his religion does not accept homosexuality. The teacher, it is alleged, told plaintiff that his religion was wrong, and ordered him out of the classroom.
