Teacher Says She Lost Job Over Gay Club
CORUNNA (WWJ/AP) - A former teacher is suing a central Michigan school district that did not renew her contract following a dispute over a poster raising awareness for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
Brook Johnson filed the suit in federal court in Flint against the Corunna Public Schools and some current and former district officials, claiming her First Amendment rights were violated, The Argus-Press of Owosso reported.
Johnson says she got negative evaluations solely because she was involved with a high school diversity club. She said the negative evaluations resulted in her contract not being renewed in 2011.
Johnson was the club's adviser in 2009 when the school board voted to remove its LGBT Awareness Month poster from a school showcase. School officials said the poster -- which featured photos of athletes, politicians and educators who live a homosexual lifestyle -- was removed because it was "inappropriate." The board later allowed the club's poster to remain after the American Civil Liberties Union got involved.
The district says it's declining comment because officials haven't been served with the lawsuit.
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