Students and advisors of the Boyd County High School Gay-Straight Alliance

The ACLU settled a lawsuit brought on behalf of several students who wanted to form a gay-straight alliance (GSA) club at Boyd County High School in Ashland, Kentucky. The settlement requires that the district treat all student clubs equally and conduct anti-harassment trainings for all students and staff.  Several students had first petitioned the school to form the gay-straight alliance in March 2002. The school initially refused to approve the club, and then later took the extraordinary step of suspending all student clubs rather than recognize the GSA. 

Status: ACLU asks judge to reopen case due to Boyd County's non-compliance with trainings

See related case, Morrison v. Boyd County Board of Education

Press Releases

• ACLU Asks Judge to Reopen Kentucky Gay-Straight Alliance Case  (July 6, 2005)
• ACLU Wins Settlement for Kentucky School's Gay-Straight Alliance (February 3, 2004)
• ACLU Secures Victory for Gay-Straight Alliance at Kentucky School (April 18, 2003)
• ACLU Asks Judge to Restore Clubs at Boyd County High School (March 19, 2003)
• ACLU Blasts KY Board of Ed's Decision to Ban All School Clubs Rather Than Allow Gay-Straight Alliance (December 20, 2002)
• ACLU Tells School Council It Must Allow Gay-Straight Alliance (September 9, 2002)

Legal Documents

• Boyd High GSA v. Boyd County Board of Education Motion to Reopen
• Consent Decree
• Boyd High GSA v. Boyd County Board of Education Injunction

Related Case:  Morrison v. Boyd County Board of Education