Federal judge dismisses lawsuit in Gay-Straight Alliance case in Okeechobee

OKEECHOBEE (FBW)—A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit April 9 against the Okeechobee County School Board which fought the establishment of a “Gay-Straight Alliance” at Okeechobee High School.

The judge found the GSA “no longer had any student members,” according to his ruling, and ordered all pending motions be dismissed.

In a 5-page ruling, Judge K. Michael Moore of the Federal District Court in Miami, responded to a lawsuit filed in November, 2006 by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of Yasmin Gonzalez, who was at the time an OHS senior and president of the small organization. (The Witness first covered the story in the Dec. 7, 2006 issue in an article titled, “Superintendent says homosexual club would violate Okeechobee district’s abstinence-only curriculum.”)

Attorney David Gibbs III, counsel for the Okeechobee County School Board and head of the Seminole-based Christian Law Association, said the school board is “pleased” with the judge’s decision.

“Basically the judge did not find merit in the argument that the club was viable and still going,” Gibbs told Florida Baptist Witness.

Pointing out the school board maintains they are acting in the “best interest of the students,” Gibbs said they routinely must deal with critical issues like teen suicide, a rise in sexually transmitted diseases and drug abuse.

The non-curricular club went against a policy which precludes organizations which are based on “sexual orientation or identity,” Gibbs said. This is in keeping with the district’s abstinence policy, he said.

“It’s unfortunate that when school boards believe they are acting in the best interest of the students that they have to face these kinds of lawsuits,” Gibbs said. “The school board’s position is that they are going to continue to act in the best interest of the students. Clubs like this are not in the best interest of the students.”

At Okeechobee High School, at least for now, it appears that even students have lost interest, Gibbs said, and it should be noted that special interest groups likely have had more interest in the organization’s outcome than the students have themselves.

“Hopefully people will ask before filing these kinds of lawsuits: ‘What is in the best interest of the students?’” Gibbs repeated rhetorically.