Arlington Public Schools is being sued by Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays for refusing to distribute their fliers to high school students.
McLEAN, Va. -- An organization that provides support for people who renounce their homosexuality is suing a northern Virginia school system for refusing to distribute its fliers to students.
The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in federal court in Alexandria by Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays (PFOX), accuses Arlington Public Schools of infringing on its First Amendment rights by arbitrarily refusing to allow distribution of PFOX materials.
APS (the school cyctem) does distribute info from PFLAG, and each high school has a gay-straight alliance. There is a non-discrimination clause in all EEO statemtns.
The two fliers submitted by PFOX for consideration essentially spell out the organization's goals and beliefs and provide contact information for students with questions.
"PFOX believes that no one chooses same-sex feelings or asks for them--but ex-gays demonstrate that those with unwanted same-sex attractions can seek help and information in overcoming those feelings," one flier states.
My thing is this.... groups like this help kids supress what goes on inside them, and that drives gay and lesbian teens to suicide.
The school system has never explained its refusal to distribute PFOX materials, Aden said; he assumes it is because they oppose PFOX's views.
The lawsuit cites a written policy from the school system that "approval is normally given to materials from nonprofit organizations in Northern Virginia." Another policy statement on the school system's Web site states that "No political, commercial or religious materials ... may be distributed at the schools ... except as authorized by the Superintendent."
That's why I think the school system will lose. Quote from the ACLU:
legal rules surrounding schools' distribution of outside materials can be vague, but that generally a school system can't ban certain organizations if it allows others. Wholesale bans on the distribution of religious material also have been ruled unconstitutional by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which covers Virginia,
My thing is this: PFLAG has been shown to do good work. Parents of gay and lesbian Arlington students are in PFLAG. PFOX leads kids to suicide. There are no PFOX parents of Arlington students in this group.
I think ultimately the school system will lose this case on first amendment and inconsistent implementation of its policy. But I'm glad they aren't caving to the crazies because they are scared of taking a stand.