Settlement reached in North Bend LGBT school harassment
(Update: Settlement reached, principal to resign)
NORTH BEND, Ore. (AP) – The principal of North Bend High School will resign and the school district will commit to improving the climate for LGBTQ students as part of a settlement reached between the American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon and the district.
The case involved two girls who were a couple and complained to the state Department of Education that they suffered harassment at the school, not only from students but also from staff.
The ACLU of Oregon sent to The Associated Press copies of the agreements, signed by North Bend School District Superintendent Bill Yester and the complainants, Olivia Funk and Hailey Smith.
Mat dos Santos, legal director at the ACLU of Oregon, said it sends a clear message to everyone at the district: There are serious consequences if you break the law by discriminating against LGBTQ students or engaging in religious proselytization at public schools.
Punishment for gay and straight students had included forced reading of the Bible.
Two young women who were an openly gay couple cited several incidents at North Bend High School. They were walking in the school parking lot when the principal’s son drove up, veered away at the last second and shouted an anti-gay slur. In class, a teacher equated same-sex marriage with bestiality.
The girls complained to school officials, but harassment continued. The school police officer told one girl she’s going to hell.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon, which represents the two girls, says they’re brave young women who have made it their mission to end the mistreatment of gay students in the school.
