This Elementary School, Which Promoted a Homosexual ‘Pride’ Club, Refused to Allow an Interfaith Club

First Liberty Institute is working on behalf of two elementary school students who want to start an interfaith club at the school. One of the students and her mother met with the principal twice, but the principal said all school club funds for October had been allocated.

Rejected.

Yet, teachers launched a homosexual “pride” student club — which they promoted — a week before the student and her mother met with the principal. The school also promotes other non-religious student clubs.

Unequal treatment? Bias? Discrimination?

That’s what First Liberty wants to know. The students attend Creekside Elementary School in Sammamish, Washington.

These students said they and other religious students feel marginalized. Could peer pressure from other students and “transgender” indoctrination from adults play a part? The students simply want to meet with like-minded classmates just like other students do.

In a letter (PDF) to the Issaquah School District, First Liberty reminded the school board and the superintendent that “First Amendment protections extend to elementary school students expressing their sincere religious beliefs through voluntary clubs—including L.A.W. and J.W.”

The refusal was unlawful, and it violates the Free Exercise Clause and the Free Speech Clause.

First Liberty asked the school to respond no later than April 22, 2024, and “provide your written assurances that the Issaquah School District and Creekside Elementary School will approve our clients’ request to start a prayer club and permit the club to begin meeting no later than April 29, 2024.”

If the school district refuses, it likely faces a lawsuit.

According to First Liberty, the elementary school is near Bremerton High School, which fired a football coach for praying on the 50-yard line after games. Joe Kennedy’s case reached the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled in his favor.

“Free Exercise and Free Speech Clauses of the First Amendment protect an individual engaging in a personal religious observance from government reprisal,” the court wrote.

Kennedy was reinstated but resigned after he said the staff harassed him.

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