*Christian students with Bible messages on shirts booted*

Posted: May 3, 2007
Pacific Justice Institute

Inderkum High, one of several Sacramento schools where Christian
students were penalized for objecting to the "Day of Silence" homosexual
advocacy

At least another 75 students have been suspended from school in
California for wearing shirts that expressed their biblically-based
opposition to homosexuality, and the district that, has been imposing
the punishments, says those quotations aren't necessarily acceptable
because they are from God's Word.

That's the verdict from San Juan Unified School District Superintendent
Steven Enoch, according to lawyers for the Pacific Justice Institute,
which is working on behalf of the students.

The suspensions were begun on April 18 when the homosexual
lobby-supported "Day of Silence" was observed in public schools in
California – and across the nation.

An unknown number of students but at least dozens and perhaps hundreds
of students were suspended for that day when they arrived wearing
T-shirts proclaiming the Bible's condemnation of homosexuality, and PJI
lawyer Kevin Snider was launched into action.

Those disagreements have been resolved in one or two cases, but continue
escalating in others, including at San Juan, where another 50 students
were suspended on Monday for wearing the shirts, and there were reports
that several dozen more were punished yesterday.

Peter Ganchenko, a deacon in a local church, reported yesterday that
"approximately 25 more students have been suspended for expressing their
religious beliefs on campus … at San Juan High School."

"The [San Juan] school is taking the position that if it's offensive [to
anyone] you can't wear it," Snider said. "The school superintendent
[said] just because something comes from the Bible doesn't give it carte
blanche to be acceptable in schools."

The students have been wearing T-shirts proclaiming their Biblical
views, he said. "They had a quote from Jesus, 'If you love me you will
keep my commandments."

The students also wore shirts with other Bible verses, including 1
Corinthians 6:9-10: "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not
inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor
idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves,
nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit
the kingdom of God."

Other slogans included the quotation from the Old Testament Law that
speaks of homosexuality as an "abomination," he said. But the school
also allows T-shirts promoting homosexuality, too, with messages such as
"I'm gay," he noted.

"The heart of the issue is will the people of faith be allowed to speak
to moral issues. That is [as opposed to] the school's [stated] desire
that students don't target other classes of people," Snider said.

In a prepared statement that was delivered later, Enoch said his first
concern is to see students return to class.

"Our challenge is to balance two fundamental rights that, in this case,
are conflicting with each other," he said. "Schools have a legal
responsibility to protect all of our students from being placed in an
atmosphere of fear or intimidation. We also recognize our students’
right to free expression.

"I support our students’ desire to debate complex and even controversial
issues, but that conversation must take place without disrupting the
educational environment, singling out a specific group of students, or
creating an atmosphere of fear for anyone. This applies to students on
both sides of a debate," he wrote.

PJI reported that Monday's confrontation involved school officials and
almost 50 students who were suspended, then held for more than four
hours in the school library.

That sparked a protest in front of the school involving another 100
people, PJI reported.

Snider said the conversations for a resolution included students,
parents and local ministers as well as school officials.

"A partial resolution of the matter was negotiated in which [Monday's]
suspensions, as well as those from last week, will be expunged," PJI said.

"We applaud the school administrators for negotiating in good faith to
clear this first hurdle," Snider said. "However, the question as to
whether Christian students can speak with a clear voice on moral issues
without sanctions in the public schools is still a matter of concern."

Snider said area pastors who are spiritual shepherds to students in the
school will continue meeting to discuss their legal options as well as
their obligations to minister to the community.

"Christian students are entitled to the same free speech protections as
any other students," said Brad Dacus, president of PJI. "Consequently,
the flagrant intolerance by school districts must not go unchallenged."

Snider said he doesn't see a quick resolution, even though other school
districts have worked that direction already.

The issues initially arose at Inderkum, Rio Linda and San Juan high
schools during the event promoted by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight
Education Network organization, which advocates for the homosexual
lifestyle and promotes educating children in that choice.

During that event, students go around school during the day without
speaking, and they hand out cards stating they are protesting the
"discrimination" against the homosexual lifestyle.

Many schools allow such activities without penalty, and California
lawmakers again are reviewing legislation that would make such advocacy
mandatory for public schools in that state.

Snider said an estimated 3,000-4,000 Sacramento area students remained
out of class to protest the GLSEN event on April 18. Others attended and
many "did some sort of speech activities on the Day of Silence or the
days following."

He said at the time some students were suspended and some were simply
sent home without formal punishment. At least one district abruptly
halted its punishments when PJI contacted officials while another
district "rounded up" students and held them for several hours, then
released them without recording any punishment.

A fourth area school later became involved in suspending students for
wearing Christian T-shirts, Snider said.

Snider said there easily could be a multitude of individual lawsuits
that eventually could result.

On the following day, students in schools around the nation participated
in the "Day of Truth," organized by the Alliance Defense Fund to counter
the GLSEN event.

"In the past, students who have attempted to speak against the promotion
of the homosexual agenda have been censored or, in some cases, punished
for their beliefs," the ADF, which reported an increase in program
registrations by nearly one-third, said on its website.

"It is important that students stand up for their First Amendment right
to hear and speak the truth about human sexuality in order to protect
that freedom for future generations," the ADF said.