Under threat of a lawsuit by a homosexualist organization, the Anoka-Hennepin School District (Minnesota's largest) gave up its principled moral stand and agreed to allow a pair of lesbian students parade before an assembly, to raucous praise (click for event news video).
-- From "Lesbian students enter to cheers at Minn. school" by The Associated Press 1/31/11
Two lesbian high school students who fought for the right to walk together as part of a royalty court made their entrances Monday to the cheers of hundreds of classmates.
Sarah Lindstrom and Desiree Shelton wore matching black suits with pink ties and held hands as they entered the Snow Days Pep Fest at Champlin Park High School in Minneapolis' northwest suburbs.
Students voted onto the royalty court traditionally enter the assembly in boy-girl pairs. After Lindstrom and Shelton, both 18, were elected, school officials last week announced a change in procedure: court members would walk in individually or accompanied by a parent or favorite teacher.
On Saturday, in federally mediated talks, school officials relented. The two sides agreed that members of the royalty court would be escorted by anyone meaningful to them, regardless of gender or age.
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From "Anoka-Hennepin, lesbian couple settle Snow Days case in arbitration" by Andy Birkey, The Minnesota Independent 1/31/11
The Anoka-Hennepin School District and a lesbian coupled elected by their peers as royalty of Champlin Park High School’s Snow Days celebration reached an agreement on Saturday that will allow Sarah Lindstrom and Desiree Shelton to walk into the ceremony together. The Southern Poverty Law Center had filed a lawsuit against the district on Friday on behalf of the couple; that suit has now been dropped.
According to a joint statement released by the district, the SPLC and the couple, Lindstrom and Shelton will be able to walk into the ceremony together.
“All parties are pleased to announce that we have worked together, collaboratively, to arrive at an arrangement for introductions of elected royalty that is respectful and inclusive of all students,” said the statement. “Each member of Royalty Court will select a meaningful person in their life to escort him or her in the coronation procession following introductions at this year’s Pep Fest. This will enable Sarah Lindstrom and Desiree Shelton to walk together in the processional.”
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From "Lesbian couple will walk in Champlin Park processional after lawsuit dismissed" by Abby Simons, Minneapolis St. Paul Star Tribune 1/29/11
. . . The lawsuit accused the school district of discriminating against gay and lesbian students and requested a restraining order against the school's rule change as well as damages.
"I'm so happy," said English teacher Jann Garofano, who has worked with the school's Gay Straight Alliance in the past. "It's good to see [school officials] come down on the right side, and I'm really proud. It helps make this type of coronation more meaningful for all."
Shelton said she and Lindstrom's intent from the beginning was to make a positive statement on behalf of LGBT students.
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