Suit Challenges Ban On T-Shirt Supporting Day of Silence

The Cincinnati Enquirer reported yesterday on a lawsuit filed in federal court by a gay Waynesville (OH) high school student who was told by school officials that he could not wear a T-shirt carrying the slogan: "Jesus is not a homophobe." The slogan appears under a rainbow colored Christian Ichthys (fish) symbol. Student Maverick Couch wants to wear the shirt on April 20 to support the Day of Silence, a national event aimed at countering bullying of gay and lesbian students. School principal Randy Gebhardt says that the shirt is not permitted because it is "indecent and sexual in nature." Earlier, administrators had said the shirt was disruptive or that it was too religious.