Hoover High School in Alabama has decided it will allow a student to wear a T-shirt that says "Gay? Fine By Me" after the Southern Poverty Law Center threatened to file a federal lawsuit on behalf of the student yesterday.
After releasing a statement defending the school's ban, Principal Don Hulin later changed course, The Birmingham News reports:
“I’m very relieved and I feel like this is a major victory for the LGBT community in Alabama. This was not just about me – it was about encouraging people to be brave in standing up for themselves and standing up for their rights.”
Later in the afternoon, Hulin issued an "updated statement" that said basically the same thing but with an addendum:
"Our dress code at Hoover High School is designed to facilitate the learning environment that is so important to our school.
"Our dress code at Hoover High School is designed to facilitate the learning environment that is so important to our school.
The T-shirt at issue has not caused a substantial disruption and the student will be allowed to wear it," the statement said. "Our focus has been and will be on the learning environment at Hoover High School."
Hoover schools spokesman Jason Gaston said school officials declined to comment further on the decision.
Sara Couvillon, the student at the center of the censorship, released a statement through the SPLC:“I’m very relieved and I feel like this is a major victory for the LGBT community in Alabama. This was not just about me – it was about encouraging people to be brave in standing up for themselves and standing up for their rights.”
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