Legal
Colorado ACLU Cases

Legal Department Docket, 2002-Present

Case Name: Palmer High School Gay/Straight Alliance v. Colorado
Springs School District No. 11
Case Number: 03-M-2535, United States District Court, District of Colorado
ACLU Case Number: 2003-15

Description: The ACLU filed suit on behalf of a group of students at Palmer High School in Colorado Springs who challenge the school's refusal to recognize their student club, the Palmer High Gay/Straight Alliance. The students started the club in January, 2003, but school authorities have repeatedly refused to recognize it. Without recognition, the student group cannot meet on school property on the same terms as other student groups; cannot post club-related information at the school; cannot use the public address system to make announcements; and is omitted from the school's yearbook and official list of student-organized activities. Palmer High School had blocked earlier efforts to organize a similar student group in 1999. The lawsuit was resolved successfully in November, 2005.

Issues: Freedom of expression; Rights of gays and lesbians; rights of young people

ACLU of Colorado Attorneys: Alfred T. McDonnell, Mark Silverstein

Links to Selected Documents:

ACLU letter to Palmer High School and District 11, April 15, 1999

ACLU News Release, December 12, 2003, "Students Sue Colorado Springs High School for blocking gay/straight alliance"

ACLU Complaint, filed December 12, 2003

"Settlement resolves ACLU lawsuit on behalf of Palmer High School Gay-Straight Alliance against Colorado Springs School District 11," ACLU News Release, Nov. 22, 2005

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