WASHINGTON – The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has called on school leaders in Tennessee’s Monroe County to stop subverting the formation of a Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) at Sequoyah High School in Madisonville.
This follows the latest incident in Monroe County, Tenn. where, not only did Principal Maurice Moser deny his school the right to have a Gay Straight Alliance club, but he also took it upon himself to physically bully Chris Sigler, the student who requested his high school to have a GSA.
The Daily Kos reported that, according to Chris Sigler and his sister, Principal Moser “stormed into the classroom and ordered all other students to leave.” Then, “Principal Moser shoved Chris against the wall, repeatedly bumped his chest against Chris, and shouted, “Who’s the big man now?” There are also reports that fair-minded faculty members, originally willing to sponsor the group’s formation, have been intimidated into silence.
HRC President Joe Solmonese stated, “The reports of homophobia in Monroe County, Tenn., are shocking. Students should feel safe in their schools. For a principal allegedly to assault a student who is defending the rights of his LGBT peers is not only irresponsible and dangerous, but a complete dereliction of his leadership obligations. And faculty members willing to sponsor a GSA should feel free to do so without threat of any kind of retribution from those above them.”
The ACLU of Tennessee has launched an online action demanding that the school board protect the students’ free speech rights.
