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ACLU asks court to dismiss challenge to school LGBTQ policy

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The ACLU of Michigan is asking a federal judge to toss out a lawsuit filed by parents against the Williamston Community School Board.

The lawsuit claims a board policy that’s supposed to protect LGBTQ students from harassment is unfair to their children – and that it violates their First Amendment rights.

Jay Kaplan is an ACLU attorney. He says the policy protects the rights of LGBTQ students.

“You know, the statistics show that LGBT(Q) kids face bullying, hostility, and harassment while at school," says Kaplan. "Then you take away the ability of governments, including public school districts, their ability to redress and prevent incidents of discrimination and harassment of students, and we see this as a potentially dangerous, slippery slope.”

The parents say the board policy subjects their children to harassment and discrimination for following their Christian beliefs. They say it’s forced them to switch their children to a private school.

Rick Pluta is Senior Capitol Correspondent for the Michigan Public Radio Network. He has been covering Michigan’s Capitol, government, and politics since 1987.
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