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Taking On Web Censorship in Tennessee SchoolsYou may recall last month when the ACLU First Amendment Working Group, the ACLU LGBT Project, and the ACLU of Tennessee first started schooling some school districts in Tennessee for using web filtering software that illegally blocked dozens of LGBT rights nonprofits and other informational sites — while so-called "reparative therapy" (pray away the gay!) websites were wide open to student surfing. We first found out about the web filtering software mess from Andrew Emitt, a student in Knoxville who discovered the problem while trying to search for something so horrifying, so filthy, so shocking — no, actually, it wasn't at all like that. He was looking for scholarship information for LGBT students. Well, the schools never fixed the problem, so today we're taking them to court on behalf of four people (three students and a school librarian) in Knoxville and Nashville. Here's one of our plaintiffs, Bryanna Shelton, and her mom, Angie Wright, explaining why:
About 80 percent of Tennessee public schools, including those in the Knox County and Metro Nashville districts, use filtering software that blocks sites it categorizes as LGBT. Tennessee law requires that schools use Internet filtering software, but that law is meant to protect students from information that is obscene or harmful to minors. However, the LGBT filter category does not include material that is sexually gratuitous. That kind of content is filtered through the "pornography" category. Meantime, students aren't blocked from websites about so-called "reparative therapy," a practice that purports to "cure" LGBT people — something that the American Psychological Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, and the National Association of Social Workers all say can be VERY harmful to students. Take a moment to look at these sites like GLSEN, PFLAG, GSA Network, Religious Coalition for the Freedom to Marry, HRC — all sites that are blocked in as many as 107 school districts in Tennessee. Now you tell me: Does that look like porn to you? Didn't think so. CORRECTION: A previous version of this post stated there were five plaintiffs in this case. That was incorrect. There are four.
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May 19th, 2009 at 11:57pm
Hello, My name is Ralph Flores, I am using your blog because the government is censoring my yahoo.com emails and won't let my emails get through to the ACLU in Illinois. I am disabled under the rules of the SSA since 2003 from injuries I sustained while working for my former employer Union League Club of Chicago. Union League Club of Chicago has been using law enforcement to harass me ever since 2001 when I was arrested near their premises on Federal St. for peaceful protesting ( criminal trespass ). Please forward my message to the ACLU near you. I am being unlawfully discriminated against on the basis of my disabilities by law enforcement in the State of Illinois. Thanks, Ralph Flores
May 20th, 2009 at 9:10am
It would be to the childrens advantage if the schools could focus on things such as educating children with core subjects instead of dealing with frivilous law suits, such as this. The public schools are being harrassed by the ACLU.
Schools should be able to spend funds on math, history, language, etc, not going to court to fight with the ACLU.
May 20th, 2009 at 12:55pm
It would be to the childrens' advantage if the schools could focus on things such as educating children with core subjects instead of wasting their resources erecting barriers to that learning. The public schools are being impeded by their unconstitutional behaviors. Schools should spend funds teaching children how to be productive members of society, not investing in illegal activities that force organizations like the ACLU to end those practices.
May 20th, 2009 at 1:04pm
It would be to the childrens' advantage if the schools could focus on things such as educating children with core subjects instead of wasting their resources erecting barriers to that learning. The public schools are being impeded by their unconstitutional behaviors. Schools should spend funds teaching children how to be productive members of society, not investing in illegal activities that force organizations like the ACLU to end those practices.
May 20th, 2009 at 1:57pm
Actualy what would be to the advantage of the children to become well informed citizens rather than ignorant boobs.
May 20th, 2009 at 3:19pm
In response to Jenna Bryson:
Jenna,
Children only learn in environments they feel comfortable and welcomed in...if the school systems are discriminating against a certain percentage, then what message does that send? And if they didn't want to fool with "frivolous law suits" then they just had to re-do their censorship.
GO ACLU!
May 20th, 2009 at 3:24pm
Somehow in our culture Sodomy became accepted. The ACLU has been leading the charge to have perversion accepted. And now with this pointless lawsuit they are going to force public schools to show images of homosexual sodomy on the internet. I wonder if the gay kids will be allowed to masturbate to these perverted images while they are in class. Hey, maybe the ACriminalLU will file a lawsuit charging that gay kids were not allowed their Constitutional right to masturbate in the middle of class while looking at sick, perverted images on the internet of Sodomites.
May 20th, 2009 at 6:23pm
The information they are blocking is dangerous, but not to the students. It poses a threat to the traditions of hate and intolerance toward those who are different. How dare you try to put an end to such a cherished tradition!
May 20th, 2009 at 11:36pm
Thanks in part to the ACLU, two generations of young Americans now believe that the most important thing is the universe are a person's feelings--masses and masses of victims. Thank the heavens that the real work that went into creating this country was accomplished by earlier generations, for we have become a whimpering, fragile nation. The ACLU, "ten million victims and counting." Listen to us long enough and you can become a victim too.
May 21st, 2009 at 11:56am
I am wondering if anyone has even read the article at this point. I am pretty sure that "porn" is still blocked while information sites of LGBT are still open.
I am sure you would all feel different if it was blocking pro-women or anti-segregation sites, but of course, you probably assume that they are completely different.
Go pick up a book, learn how to read, and get educated.
Go ACLU
May 21st, 2009 at 1:26pm
I think that Liberal hater is just jealous because he thinks that the gays are having constant orgies while he is still a virgin.
May 21st, 2009 at 2:30pm
why should schools allow the homosexual community the right to try and mold a childs brain to be a homosexual? The school has every right to block this type of psychological conditioning. Homosexuals part of the criminal arm of religion called temptation. schools have the right to block these sexual predators from the students that may be trying to learn something other then how to a homosexual.
May 21st, 2009 at 2:36pm
Although homosexuality is wrong, why should it be any concern of yours to what two consenting adults do in their bedroom?
How would you know if two adults were committing acts of sodomy anyway? Do you stand there and watch telling them that it is wrong? Only someone that is a pervert theirself who is inhibited would care about what two adults do their own bedroom. Perhaps if you didn't try and capitlize off of it to make a name for yourself, perhaps the problem would go away, but then again since you continue to talk about it, you must be interested in it. Maybe it also stems from the fact that you are a religious fundamentalist breeder that is trying to correct something just some more of your type of people can be bred to follow you around.
May 21st, 2009 at 4:34pm
dwight...There are no credible studies that show people's minds can be molded to be straight or gay and you are confusing sexual predators with homosexuals. There are straight and gay predators.
May 22nd, 2009 at 2:17pm
What is wrong and totaly immoral is bigotry.What is good and beutiful is love between2 human beings.Furthermore it is not the Gay community that seeks to warp the minds of children but rather the bigots who want to spread their ignorance.
As a staight man who was labeled gay by such idiots I applaud the Gay community for standing up for tolerance
and human rights for all kids.
The Homophobes however are hurting kids
by pushing up the suicide rates and the number of kids on the streets.
May 22nd, 2009 at 6:22pm
Aren't Indiana schools being filtered in the same way?
Maybe the plan should be to tackle the company Blue Coat over even having a category such as this in the web filter database.
http://www.ena.com/products/content_filtering.aspx
May 23rd, 2009 at 11:29am
I'm totally against the LGBT. I believe being gay is a life style adults choose later on in their lives. I do NOT think that we need to teach our children to be tolerant of something that is a choice made by adults. It's completly wrong to be discussing this with children. And what about the parents who don't approve with that type of lifestyle?? Why should the children of those parents be forced to listen to the tolerance of homosexuality?? Children's minds are like sponges... if we instill in them that gay lifestyles are okay at this young of an age they are going to grow uo thinking that it okay. And that is wrong, especially when you, as a parent, don't agree. Ans since when was it okay to push on anyone their liberal ideals???
I'm really not too worried about this LGBT crap. There's enough good, responsible, conservative people in the US that this won't be made mandatory!!!
May 24th, 2009 at 5:50pm
I believe this is a parent issue. What ever is seen in school or on the internet is the parent's issue. There are a lot of children that do not attend certain classes. Are not allowed to have pictures taken etc.
The parent has the child until 18. The school should contact parents to let them know what the curriculum is and then it is up to the "Parent" to decide wether the child participates. I think that the ACLU is meddling in the parents business where they "Do Not Belong"
May 24th, 2009 at 6:37pm
The ACLU members should just put a gun to their heads and pull the trigger. They are a useless society sucking up the oxygen of productive individules throughout our country. Worthles as a disease that spreads without control. A cancer of society.
In GOD WE trust. God Bless America. If the ACLU doesn't like it here in America, then get the hell out.
May 26th, 2009 at 2:48pm
No Al and Layla the disease that poisons minds is bigotry and all the crackpot theories and claims that God is a bigot to will not change that fact.
Jun 1st, 2009 at 1:24pm
I hate the ACLU. You guys are nothing but leeches that are sucking all the good out of America. These kids shouldn't even be looking at gay sites at school, so shut up and tell the kids and their parents to grow up. Schools are places to learn, not surf the internet to start a stupid Gay-Straight Alliance. Most people would not have a problem with gay people if they would just shut up and leave the liberties of everyone else alone. Just because you love the same sex, doesn't mean that everyone else has to accept that. Remember, this is the land of freedom for all, not just minorities that want everything handed over to them while everyone else works hard to get what they want.
Jun 1st, 2009 at 5:05pm
@Missing
YAY bigotry and intolerance!
I miss them good ol' days too.
You know, when blacks couldn't eat, drink, use the toliet, or sit next to the all powerful white man.
I miss the days when gay people didn't exist and the entire world was straight.
Then that damn ACLU had to come along and turn us into a nation of queers!
Bring back the good ol' days!
WOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOO!!!!!
Jun 5th, 2009 at 2:47pm
To Missing, AL, Layla et al: If you're against the ACLU, you're against the defense of civil rights and the Constitution. Dare I say, "that's un-American of you?"
Jun 21st, 2009 at 11:47am
Honestly, southern schools need to focus less on LGBT issues and more on fundamental learning, such as reading, writing, and mathematics. Most southern schools are significantly behind their peers in the north. As far as gender and sexual identity issues, let that be taught at home where it belongs, not in school. The ACLU is wrong here, but so is the school system.
Jun 28th, 2009 at 11:58am
I'm sort of amazed people are still clinging to the 'homosexuality is ebil' argument.
The fact is, when you censor information you're going against the right to free speech. Now, in a private school this would not be an issue. In a GOVERNMENT-RUN PUBLIC SCHOOL, censoring things is not acceptable. It's a violation of the constitution.
Homosexuality has been around for thousands of years. It's not going anywhere. The only brainwashing and conditioning going on is from fundies who think that by harassing and stomping down gay youth, they can change them.
Or at least drive them to a cup of bleach and an early grave.
Jul 8th, 2009 at 5:04pm
Keeping ones' kids from the knowledge that something exist has NEVER BEEN a constitutional right!
I'm so tired of conservatives going on about their "right" to only have THEIR kid exposed to ONLY those things that THEY feel are correct. The courts have time and again ruled that there is NO SUCH "RIGHT".
In a public school, there are ALL KINDS of kids and ALL KINDS OF PARENTS from ALL KINDS of social, religious and cultural backgrounds! Duh....
How can the school respect the alleged "right" of anti-gay parents and the "right" of pro-gay parents at the same time? They can't. You don't have the right to demand that something not exists FOR EVERYONE, just because YOU don't want YOUR kid to know about it. If that were the case, NOTHING would exist in society at all!
If the schools block gay positive or even gay neutral INFO/NEWS sites, while letting anti-gay sites through, then the schools are violating the "right" of gay parents, gay students and even pro-gay straight parents by exposing THEIR kids to ONLY that content which is offensive to THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES!
Government schools can't pick and choose which families and students it will stand behind in content discrimination when the info in question is not obscene or illegal.
Biggots HATE the ACLU because they are effective and they speak TRUTH TO POWER!...
Jul 20th, 2009 at 6:06pm
Fuck the ACLU! I hate yall, you guys need to leave the Nation and go back somewhere else! If yall are soo interested in rights, how bout givin White Southern People back our rights eh? We cant even spaek out against gay marriage without you idiots gettin in the way. So please leave us alone down here and go bother the yankees instead of us. We're tired of bein pushed around, and ya know white straight people founded this country, and it turns out queers will destroy it for us. Oh, and got said bein queer is an abomonation, Levitcus 20:13 I believe, as for me, I'm fully against gay marrige and queers for that matter, may yall burn in hell when you die! Cuz uns wont go to heaven.
Aug 6th, 2009 at 12:23pm
"Anonymous Says:
July 20th, 2009 at 7:06 pm
Fuck the ACLU! I hate yall, you guys need to leave the Nation and go back somewhere else! If yall are soo interested in rights, how bout givin White Southern People back our rights eh? We cant even spaek out against gay marriage without you idiots gettin in the way. So please leave us alone down here and go bother the yankees instead of us. We’re tired of bein pushed around, and ya know white straight people founded this country, and it turns out queers will destroy it for us. Oh, and got said bein queer is an abomonation, Levitcus 20:13 I believe, as for me, I’m fully against gay marrige and queers for that matter, may yall burn in hell when you die! Cuz uns wont go to heaven.
"
WHAT? that was BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. you have that right, but you can NOT deny that right to someone else regardless how much you might hate them. Sorry, you are NOT god. you can NOT deny them heaven. SO... ummm, you can just go f*ck yourself. Kthanks. ;)
Aug 7th, 2009 at 5:09am
I think the aclu is part of the abomination that is becoming a socialist goverment in this country. I think they need to let the parents decide what their children see. There is no reason why a child should be searching about a gay(adult activites) life style or future in school. School is intended for learning and educating our children. Not for advancing thier sexual preferences. If homosexuals want to search such things it should be done in the privacy of thier own home. Just as all straight people have to do.
Aug 8th, 2009 at 9:46pm
JESUS PEOPLE, CENSORSHIP IS STILL WRONG, THIS IS NOT COMMUNIST CHINA, AND IT SURE AS HELL AIN'T NORTH KOREA. THE AGGRESSIVE FILTER SOFTWARE IS BULLSHIT AND SET TO BE BIASED. IF U DON'T WANNA READ THINGS ABOUT GAY PEOPLE DONT FUCKING READ IT BUT BLOCKING IT BECAUSE PEOPLE DONT WISH TO SEE IT IS UTTER BULLSHIT. THERE IS ALWAYS A CHOICE.
Aug 12th, 2009 at 11:19pm
The ACLU has done tremendous damage to this country, yet is not satisfied. Major objective: pervert the children.
Aug 19th, 2009 at 6:42pm
You idiots will keep on keeping on as long as bigger idiots fund your cause. Keeping porn from kids is NOT a civil right problem, its a MORAL problem and of course the ACLU has a problem with people who have morals.
Aug 26th, 2009 at 3:24pm
Ok, how about a little reasoning here.... it's against the law for Christian Children to pray in school or even before lunch at school because it is offensive to other non Christian students, so why pray tell is it ok to constantly shove any sexual preference down these kids throats and offend them? If we can't pray in public because the ACLU says its forcing our religion onto others then why can't we be just as offended by sexual prefernces that are not according to our beliefs?
I've often wondered why the athesits don't just do what they have the constitutional right to do..... walk away. Public school is not teaching religion.. you get your way. But when my child chooses to thank his God privately for lunch or help on a test and he's not bothering anyone or heaven forbid forcing his beliefs on him, why is my child punished? Why can't the ACLU followers just mind their own business? Why does it bother you so much to see us pray? Why do you care that other people don't agree with your beliefs? We don't. We simply try to educate you and you're on your own from there. Yet I find more oftne than not that my beliefs are to be censored so that someone else can say I"m stupid or confused, etc. When is it going to be time for us Christians to sue you and say you offend me because you don't think like I do, or you offend me because you have a different lifestyle than me and I dont't like it, or you offend me because you think I"m stuck in the lost ages for my beliefs.
With this article that yes I did read, do you think that it would be more appropriate for the student to look up guns or bombs? The schools have rules that cover the gray areas in law like this one so that explicit material does not fall into young hands. The rules are made very clear what is allowable and not, just like the corporation I work for. why could this student not go to a public library to look up this information, why did it have to become a lawsuit? For attention. There is no right that's being denied here, it seems to me that it's an excuse to bash other peoples beliefs and right not to have any lifestyle forced on them. If anyone is guilty of denying rights it's the ACLU... the right for a school district to decide what is appropriate and what is not. On a more personal note, I also want to whine that my rights are violated dailey.... I can't say God Bless you to people in public, I can't say Merry Christmas, or Happy Easter to fellow Christians in public.
Am I wrong to say that my right to free speech is denied then? Just a question
Sep 1st, 2009 at 2:39pm
Amanda,
There are no laws saying that you can't wish people a merry Christmas. It's just not politically correct to do so. MERRY CHRISTMAS. See? I just said it, and I know there will be no legal action against me for doing so. There's a huge difference between social norms and law, a point you're obviously missing in multiple areas.
Sep 13th, 2009 at 3:23pm
Hey guys. I agree with the ACLU on this one. The gay content isn't pornography, and rather just informative material. Imagine if your local mosque's site was banned, without due cause (do to racism) but anti-muslim sites were allowed. How would that make you feel?
liberal hater: Go shove a stick up your arse, ignorant bastard.
Sep 16th, 2009 at 7:35pm
Go home school your self and look up all of the faggoty crap on your own computer. My tax dollars should not be used to push your gay agenda any more than it should be used to sell illegal drugs. I have to sign a permission slip before the schools can discuss sex ed with my children. This allows me to protect them in their formative years from the raw perversions of the world. Gays are not a majority and America needs to stop treating them like a majority. On second thought tho....keep it up. This may just be the straw that breaks the camels back. We Americans that believe in what this country was founded on and for will eventually rise up and strike down the opposition. The civil war has not been forgotten and the constitution sets up reasons and ways to stop garbage such as that which you are pushing. I'll wager that you still think that the civil war was a race based war.
Sep 17th, 2009 at 4:11am
Seems like the issue would be the fact that they promote anti gay sentiments while c-blocking the other side of the story. I agree that this is a touchy subject but both sides should be discussed. At some point a parent needs to be a parent and guide their kids in life. School are not day care centers and children need input from all perspectives.
Sexual orientation is not a choice. There is no way I could choose to be gay. No matter how cool it is made to be.
Sep 17th, 2009 at 4:14pm
Unlike some of these paranoid commenters, this is my real name.
I looked at the sites, and apparently it's just information. Pretty harmless.
Wow. Lets protect children(even though that has become code for discrimination),
and a political football. Look, children are smarter than you think, and they TALK about all kind of things you think they don't talk about.
Censorship is against any principles the Founding Fathers fought Great Britain about. They fought primarily for two ideals: Freedom of Religion, and Freedom of Thought. Most of the Founding Fathers put Freedom of Religion as number One. That means, of course, that you can pray any way you want, to what Deity you choose. Or not pray, or no Religion. That's the whole point. And as for what the ACLU is fighting for, it is not pornographic, but informative. Check out the sites they highlight, and decide for yourself whether they're "pornographic".
Nobody is looking this stuff up except those interested in it.
To block one but not block the other is offensive, bigoted, and wrong. No true person, no true believer in Liberty, should believe censorship is appropriate.
There is no excuse for ignorance, and to be denied two sides of the story is slanted toward ignorance. I can't believe in this time and place that this is even up for debate. How shameful, and horrendous.
Sep 19th, 2009 at 9:30pm
Those of you who are against the ACLU seem to forget what the initials stand for American Civil Liberties Union. They are the ones trying to keep EVERYONE'S freedom. Not just the minorities or majorities. The ACLU has protected Christian and atheist right equally. Gay and straight. These people are the only ones keeping us free from uncontrolled government.
Sep 29th, 2009 at 2:41am
Reading about gay rights and going to pro gay web sites will not turn you gay! these kids are in high school and are most likely having sex or thinking of it. Their sexual orientation is already in them, people dont turn gay after a certain age.They are gay from birth and most of them try to hide it and dont come out of the closet til they are older. Its just great that these high school kids know who they are and dont back away from it or try to hide it.
I am straight but I have alot of gay friends, have you ever really sat down and talked to someone who is gay? If not how can you say you hate them all? specially when GOD wants us to love everyone!
Sep 30th, 2009 at 5:17pm
The aclu says that they are for all Americans. That is a crock of crap, if you ask me. Anonymous says that sexual orientation is not a choice but that a person is either born gay or straight. That is the biggest load of crap I have ever heard. I am not one to get mad over something like this but you people are crazy. The aclu is trying to get the crosses on American service men's graves removed but they are trying to help the gay community. If you are for all Americans then what is that saying to the people of this country. The ten Commandments were removed from all government buildings, prayer was removed from schools and many other things I haven't noted here have been done by the so-called aclu. You call a person that don't want the gay crap shoved down their throats a bigot. Why is that? I never have understood the gays. This is all about, like you say, sexual orientation. SEXUAL!!!!! Doesn't that have something to do with sex? Why should it be legal to teach a child how to be gay, if in fact like you say, they are already gay to begin with? Why should that stupid crap be taught in our schools when you cant talk about God or Jesus. As far as I know a student who speaks of God or Jesus in school will be repremanded. How sad is that? You are telling me it should be legal to teach kids about the gay community but it is wrong to teach them about God? You people are the bigots, if you ask me.
Oct 5th, 2009 at 8:06pm
Yes... Let's waste the govts./Schools districts funding dollars going to court to fight this great "civil rights" group. If that girl wants to go to that crap on her own time then let her, i'm sure she has access to a computer somewhere. Thanks a lot ACLU!