Myers v. Thornsberry
What's at Stake
The ACLU filed a lawsuit in federal court against a high school that twice punished a student for wearing t-shirts expressing her support for gay rights. LaStaysha Myers, a heterosexual 15-year-old student at Webb City High School in Missouri, was twice sent home from school last November for wearing homemade t-shirts; first, one bearing several handwritten slogans such as "I support the gay rights!" and "Who are we to judge?" and the next day one that bore a rainbow and the Webster's dictionary definition of "gay": "M[e]rry, happy." Before censoring Myers, administrators routinely allowed students to wear shirts expressing other messages, including endorsements of the Bush and Kerry presidential campaigns, students' views on abortion, and religious messages.
Summary
Status:Victory! The school settled the lawsuit and agreed not to censor student t-shirts in the future.
Legal Documents
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04/06/2005
Myers v. Thornsberry - Complaint
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04/06/2005
Myers v. Thornsberry - Declaration of LaStaysha Myers
Date Filed: 04/06/2005
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04/06/2005
Myers v. Thornsberry - Declaration of Leda Myers
Date Filed: 04/06/2005
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04/06/2005
Myers v. Thornsberry - Memorandum in Support of Motion for Preliminary Injunction
Date Filed: 04/06/2005
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04/06/2005
Myers v. Thornsberry - Motion for Preliminary Injunction
Date Filed: 04/06/2005
Press Releases
ACLU Secures Promise from Missouri High School to Stop Censoring Student's Gay-Supportive T-Shirts
ACLU Exposes Censorship at High Schools in Ohio and Missouri