A Florida federal
judge ruled Friday that high school principal David
Davis led a "relentless crusade" against
homosexuality at Ponce de Leon High School, Panama
City's News Herald reported.
"Davis
embarked on what can only be characterized as a witch
hunt," U.S. district judge Richard Smoak wrote.
Student Heather
Gillman and the American Civil Liberties Union won a
free-speech lawsuit against the Holmes County School Board
nearly two months ago after Davis banned pro-gay
messages from the high school. Students had rallied in
support after an antigay taunting incident.
In response to
the incident, Davis told the student that it wasn't
right for her to be homosexual and held a school-wide
"morality assembly."
According to the
Herald, Davis banned rainbows, pink triangles,
and slogans that he considered "sexually
suggestive." The slogans included, "I Support
Gays" and "God Loves Me Just the Way I
Am."
"The
atmosphere that was created at the school was so
intimidating for these kids," Chris Hampton of
the ACLU told the Herald. "It's not about
everyone agreeing; it's about being able to disagree
respectfully."
Davis has
since been replaced as principal of Ponce de Leon High
School. (The Advocate)
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