Graduate sues former high school, claims free speech violation

LANSING, Michigan (AP) --An Ann Arbor high school graduate is suing her alma mater, claiming the school violated her free speech right to criticize homosexuality during a diversity program.

An attorney for the Ann Arbor Public Schools says Betsy Hansen had plenty of opportunities to give her opinion during the weeklong event.

The conservative, Ann Arbor-based Thomas More Center for Law and Justice filed a federal lawsuit July 10 on behalf of Hansen, who said Pioneer High School violated her civil rights during its Diversity Week in March.

Hansen, who graduated in June, said she was forced to remove comments about homosexuality from her speech to an all-school assembly and was prohibited from being on a panel that discussed religion and homosexuality. Hansen, who is Roman Catholic, objects to homosexuality based on her religious beliefs.

Len Niehoff, an attorney for the school district, said her speech was not censored and school officials reviewed all the students' speeches before the assembly. They asked Hansen to take another look at one paragraph that included references to race and homosexuality, he said.

Hansen gave the speech, but didn't mention race or homosexuality because she was told not to, said Robert Muise of the Thomas More center. Muise said Hansen wanted to say, "I completely and wholeheartedly support racial diversity, but I can't accept religious and sexual ideas or actions that are wrong."

Muise also said Hansen was told she couldn't be a member of the panel on religion and homosexuality "because her message was a negative message and it would water down the positive message they wanted to convey."

Niehoff said she wasn't allowed to participate because she didn't attend a mandatory meeting. He also pointed out that there were only adults on the panel.

Some students who organized the discussion felt that views of people who oppose homosexuality are often heard, and therefore they recruited the panelists who supported homosexuality, Niehoff said.

"Students had ample opportunity to exchange and express ideas during Diversity Week," Niehoff said. An open mike session was held the last day of the event.

The federal lawsuit names the district, the Pioneer High School principal, assistant principal, three teachers and district's equity officer.

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