LaStaysha Myers's censored t-shirts

The ACLU filed a lawsuit in federal court against a high school that twice punished a student for wearing t-shirts expressing her support for gay rights.  LaStaysha Myers, a heterosexual 15-year-old student at Webb City High School in Missouri, was twice sent home from school last November for wearing homemade t-shirts; first, one bearing several handwritten slogans such as "I support the gay rights!" and "Who are we to judge?" and the next day one that bore a rainbow and the Webster's dictionary definition of "gay": "M[e]rry, happy."  Before censoring Myers, administrators routinely allowed students to wear shirts expressing other messages, including endorsements of the Bush and Kerry presidential campaigns, students' views on abortion, and religious messages.

Status: Schools agrees to end censorship

Press Releases

ACLU Exposes Censorship at High Schools in Ohio and Missouri - Incidents Stand in Contrast to Recent Survey about Student Awareness on First Amendment (April 6, 2005)

ACLU Secures Promise from Missouri High School to Stop Censoring Student's Gay-Supportive T-Shirts (June 23, 2005)

Legal Documents

Myers v. Thornsberry Complaint

Declaration of LaStaysha Myers

Declaration of Leda Myers

Memo in Support of  Motion for Preliminary Injunction

Motion for Preliminary Injunction