News (USA)

North Carolina school suspends all clubs after parents complain about LGBT club

North Carolina school suspends all clubs after parents complain about LGBT club

LAKE LURE, N.C. — After parents complained about a newly formed LGBT Club at a North Carolina K-12 public charter school, the school’s board of directors suspended all clubs’ activities.

Parents, teachers, pastors and concerned citizens voiced a mix of opinions to the club during the board of directors meeting Thursday at Lake Lure Classical Academy in Rutherford County, The Daily Courier of Forest City reports.

The board voted 5-3 to suspend all club activity until it can seek legal counsel on club protocol.

Visual arts teacher Layne Long said she allowed a female student to hold the club’s meetings in her classroom and gave the student a poster from the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network to display. One grandmother complained that the poster meant she had to explain the meaning of “gay” and “lesbian” to her elementary school grandchild.

“This is not a religious club. This is a human rights club,” Long said. “My father is a Christian and I’ve been brought up to understand that God is love. Jesus wants to help people.”

In her one comment on the issue, School Director Jessica Boland expressed her disappointment in the situation and said the community is the main reason for the controversy.

“From the school side, when you are in the school community, the issues aren’t as prevalent as the outside community is making it,” Boland said. “I find it disappointing that we have to suspend all clubs.”

Along with suspending all club activity, the board also adopted a new policy on posters. According to the new policy, all club posters must have a stamp of approval from the school director and can only be placed on designated club bulletin boards on the middle and high school halls.

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