FLORIDA – Karlton O. Johnson, principal of Blanche Ely High School in Pompano Beach, Fla. is coming under fire for “outing” a gay student and threatening to suspend her and her gay friend for holding hands on campus.
Broward County Commissioner Kristen Jacobs, who represents Pompano Beach, learned of the incident after reading a story posted on the South Florida Times web site.
“I am outraged,” Jacobs said in an interview. “Holding hands is the one thing that is completely acceptable in our society.”
Jacobs met with Johnson Tuesday to express concern and seek an explanation.
Attorney Barry Butin, who co-chairs the Broward County chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union’s (ACLU) legal panel, described the situation as “disturbing.”
“Freedom of expression is just one of the things that it may violate. If the students are suspended or disciplined in any way, we would take action if asked,” Butin said. “They are minors and their parents would have to decide.”
Community activist Michael Rajner, who serves on the school district’s diversity committee, is calling for Johnson to be suspended and for a thorough investigation.
“His actions were reckless and potentially dangerous, without any understanding of the potential harm he may have caused by outing these students. Many gay youth become suicidal after being outed and the school district must intervene and link these families to counseling services,” Rajner said.
Johnson approached the pair as they were walking to class holding hands. Describing the incident, one of the girls told the South Florida Times, “We were walking to class when he rolled up on his golf cart and said, ‘Didn’t I tell you two to stop doing that?’ and then he took us to his office. He gave us a speech and then separated us before calling our parents, which was wrong. My mother already knew but my friend’s mom didn’t know she is into girls.”
One of the teens said Johnson had warned them about holding hands on previous occasions, but they continued anyway because straight couples were allowed to do so without incident.
Johnson did not respond to media e-mails and phone calls seeking comment, but Broward Schools Superintendent James Notter has announced there would be a thorough investigation of the students’ claims.
