A 15-year-old pupil who wrote an opinion piece arguing against same-sex adoption was censored, threatened with suspension and called “ignorant” by a senior school official, according to his lawyers.
Brandon Wegner, of Wisconsin, wrote the editorial for his student newspaper, The Hawk’s Post, which appeared opposite an opposing article written by another student.
Brandon, who attends Shawano Community High School, supported his position by referencing various sources, including the Bible.
Homosexual
But following a complaint from a homosexual couple, the section containing the two columns was removed from extra copies of the paper and the school district apologised for the 15-year-old’s comments.
According to his lawyers, Brandon was told that his column “went against the bullying policy”.
When Brandon said that he did not regret writing the piece Superintendent Todd Carlson is alleged to have accused him of being “ignorant” and said “we have the power to suspend you if we want to”.
Intolerance
Liberty Counsel, a group which campaigns for religious freedom, is demanding the school district apologise to Brandon.
Matthew Staver, founder and chairman of the Liberty Counsel said: “The school officials have displayed blatant intolerance of a view on homosexuality held by many people.
“The school’s actions are shocking and unjustified. The superintendent should immediately apologize and stop the bullying.”
Action
However, Mr Carlson says that the section of the student newspaper including both comment pieces was pulled from extra copies of the newspaper at school, and no further action was taken.
In October it emerged that a school district in Texas had said sorry for punishing a Christian student who said that homosexuality is wrong.
Dakota Ary, 14, and his classmates were in a German lesson when the conversation shifted to religion and homosexuality in Germany.
Christian
During the conversation Dakota turned to a friend and said that he believed homosexuality to be wrong because of his Christian faith.
Following his comment Dakota, from Fort Worth in Texas, was initially suspended from class for three days. But the local school district later sent a letter to Liberty Counsel vindicating Dakota.