Below related articles is the new article concerning another christian student zeroed out for their religious beliefs. At post: Legalization of same sex marriage in Vermont opens doors to tax payer's funding of "Gendertopia" in local school district. was reported that at tax payers expense Vermont who just legalized same sex marriage is having an after school event called "Gendertopia" which will define those who disagree with same sex relationships as homophobic or now "gendertopic" and yet a second-grader can't perform a sign language talent because the song is christian.
Related: 400 graduating seniors at Pace High School stood up in protest against the ACLU and recited the Lord's Prayer during graduation ceremony.
Video of local news report of Pace High School where students denied graduation speeches via ACLU
200 students and parents gather to pray in protest outside of Pace High School against an ACLU restriction of speech on public schools.
YouTube video of valedictorian's speech that was censored while speech was given. Watch students reaction...
See complaint filed in the courts against Butte High School in Montana for censoring Renee Griffith's valedictorian speech...
Police stop student led prayer during lunch time...
UCLA student has the proof posted that UCLA professor has prohibited her from saying "I want to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" in grad speech.
Another High School finds a way to pray after prayer was taken from graduation ceremony
Law group the Pacific Justice Institute in California reports...
School Censors Second-Grader's Talent Show Performance
June 10, 2009
The parents of a seven-year-old are questioning a school's decision not to allow their daughter to participate in the school talent showall because she - chose a religious song.
Second-grader Bette Ouellette performed sign language to one of her favorite songs in an audition for an after-school talent show at Vintage Parkway Elementary School in Oakley. She was praised for her talent, but school officials insisted that she could not perform at the talent show because the song was Christian. The Ouellettes were not aware of any other children being told that they could not participate.
Bette's dad, Brent, thought the school overreacted, and he called Pacific Justice Institute. PJI staff attorney Matthew McReynolds sent the school a legal demand letter this week. The letter cites several legal authorities condemning censorship of student expression, including a nearly identical case in New Jersey where a school's attempts to ban a religious song from a talent show were ruled unconstitutional. "All we want is an apology and a promise that this won't happen again," said Brent Ouellette. He added, "There are a variety of religious views within our own household, but we respect each other and don't try to silence anyone. We think the school should be the same way."
PJI President Brad Dacus commented, "Common sense and the federal courts both tell us that school talent shows are clearly student expression protected by the First Amendment. Censoring one student's expression based on religious content is therefore unconstitutional. We are hopeful that these straightforward principles will be quickly recognized by the school."
