Seriously?

PDA is not a big deal. If it is impeding the educational process, it would have to be taking place in the classroom. At that point, it becomes a behavioral issue and the teacher can separate the two students.

Outing any couple is wrong. Outing someone to his mother is doubly wrong.

Wow. As if high school isn't hard enough you have to worry about being butch enough to pass your principal's sexuality standards. No wonder why kids are bringing guns to school.

Uhm... I really don't recall all that much PDA in my high school days. Which ended two years ago. I think this principal is being rather extreme.

And I feel really bad for those boys. And also for the couples in general - I certainly kept my relationship under wraps in HS. That's really horrible of her.

This is insane. That principal way out of line, but also, why did the teachers think it was ok to go along with it? The whole thing is so bizarre. I really feel bad for those kids, this should not have happened to them

*was way

Awful and unforgivable.

PDA nowadays in HS is much different than when I was in HS. I can see where the Principal would want to "crack down" on too much PDA, however, she was totally out of line in this case. She should have come up with a better way to handle the situation. Not posting names in a public forum for all to see.

WOW! That was so out of line!

If classmates didn't know they were a couple BEFORE the list, reason suggests that this couple in particular were not commiting acts of PDA.

So wrong!!!

Things like this happen in small schools all the time, and no one takes action. Hopefully the law suit will discourage other schools from doing the same.

This was a bit harsh, but I'm just against PDA in general. I have had both gay and straight friends in high school, and trust me, I just didn't want to see ANYONE engaging in PDA because it seems to me like something that should be private and special.

I read this article and at the end I found that I had shed a few tears. I remember quite clearly how delicate a matter this was and how difficult it was for me to come out to my family and friends. The sadness that consumes me right now for these two young men is very heavy.

With respect to the question first of all even if there were no gay students involved in this ridiculous round up. The act was juvenile and invasive and without any measure of compassion what so ever. Ms. Beasley was thoughtless and cruel. Her ignorance has placed these young men in emotional, psychological and physical harms way. The denial of the teacher to allow one of the boys on a trip and telling him he is an embarrassment I think hurt me the most.

I just wish that I could stand before Ms. Beasley and the teacher right now and tell them what it's like, because if they knew. They would have thought twice before acting with such scandalous ignorance.

As tragic as this act was it is also the most opportune moment for the sensible powers that be to educate the student body in regards to tolerance. If they fail to do this, they have failed our children.

I can understand wanting to crack down on PDA in the hallways. Even when I went to high school - 10 years ago! gulp! - you would see couples making out seriously inappropriately and that changes the whole tenor of the environment.

BUT, posting a list of couples!? Why would that even do anything about PDA? If a couple is sucking face, ya can see they are together.

AND, my heart really goes out to these two kids. If other students and their parents were unaware of them as a couple or their orientation before all this, then I would have to think that the teacher who put them on the list had been taken into confidence by one or both of them. That teacher betrayed them. And this principal was SO out of line outing them to the school and their families like this. These poor guys went from having a comfortable environment at home and school to hostility overnight. That's heartbreaking. Their parents better damn well be supporting them. I can't think of a time when a high schooler would need the love and support of their family more than this.

Wow. This really upsets me. Gay teenagers have enough struggles with coming out to themselves, their friends, and their family — if they so choose. And like Hypnoticmix says, these boys now have to worry about being targeted because of their sexuality. I guess the silver lining of this cloud is that these boys will also hear from supportive people. One hopes...

And I agree — why should a school be battling PDA? Deal with it on an individual basis, but something about "making lists" is disturbing.

Oh! And, excluding him from a trip because he would "embarass" the school? That is just disgusting behavior from an "adult", an "educater"! Look who's embarrassed the school now. Hint: it's not the two young guys in love.

hypno, I share your sadness! I can't really put into words how hearing about incidents like this makes me feel...but it is so tragic.

So many wonderful, genuine, amazing people are forever scared (physically and emotionally) by acts of ignorance.

I am saying a prayer for my gay angels right now.

I don't understand what a list of couples would do to stop PDA in the first place. People break up and hook up so frequently in high school that you'd have to update it every day. I had a good friend who didn't come out until after high school and he really struggled with it for a number of reasons so I really feel for these boys having it forced upon them in that way. I really hope their parents were supportive. To do that to these boys, who obviously did nothing innapropriate, is inexcusable. The school has no reason to be embarrassed for these boys being gay, but every student and teacher at that school should be embarassed for the actions the school took.

This really pisses me off. The principal should be fired & the teachers seriously disciplined. High school is difficult enough without the adults who are supposed to be in charge and taking care of our kids making it harder. I would love to come face to face with the teacher who wouldn't let the young man go on the trip to NO. So I could slap some sense into his stupid head. My heart goes out to those young men. Hopefully, their families will be there for them & support them through all of this.

Hypnoticmix - I just want to you. I always enjoy your comments & I think it's wonderful that you're comfortable with the CitizenSugar family to be so open about your sexuality.

This is ridiculously unnecessary. I can not believe in this day and age people are still subjected to this kind of thing. Very sad.

This seriously disgusts me, they have the same rights as anyone else. To out someone to their parents? That is horrible, well I really hope he and his mother have a good relationship still. I just wish he was able to tell people about it in his own time. Sad he never got that chance. She better get fired, and never be able to work at a school again.

What the hell was the Principal trying to accomplish by "outing" theses teens and violating their right to privacy? Did he want them to suddenly go "Hey we've decided not to be gay anymore!"

Or did he want the other students to rise up and beat the crap out of them until he didn't have to see them anymore?

I think just from reading this and seeing no real justification for his actions the Principal's goals were to cause humiliation and he hoped to insight others to physically harm the two gay students because he stupidly thinks that there is something wrong/immoral about being homosexual. This man probably thought that he could cause another Lawrence King situation then pretend that he had no blame in the matter.

For shame! I hope some news organization posts his picture and info so I can go kick his arse.

This is ridiculous. Punishing and outing couples has nothing to do with combating PDA. When kids actually make out in the halls, if the school sees a problem then the teachers need to be the ones cracking down appropriately. There need to be fair policies and procedures - just posting a list of names is ridiculous. Esp when people makeup/breakup all day in high school.

I don't think high schools typically foster an understanding environment. They can, but so many don't. When the administration is part of the bullying do we even have to wonder why teenagers have such hard times being comfortable and self confident?

also, hypnoticmix, I hope somehow this opens the woman's eyes to what an impact she has and how difficult this can be, and to leave personal lives alone. I remember how hard it was for most of my gay friends growing up in a small town, most waited until college to come out... I can't imagine someone choosing to do it for them before they were ready.

Alright, thinking that a list of couples is going to help you fight PDA is stupid. Secondly, PDA doesn't affect education unless it's happening IN the classroom, like i heart monster said at the very beginning. Second, CALLING their parents? Did she call everyone else's parents as well? I don't have any idea WHY should would want to do this except for the fact that she's homophobic. There's really no other explanation. I'm so tired of this crap, all over the place!

I've always sympathized more with gay people than any other minority because, if you think about it, almost NO civilization fully accepts them. Lucky for me, I live in a VERY liberal city right now, and there are gay couples all over the place. It makes me very happy to see that they can find someone to love, and not be attacked for it, at least some of the time.

Wow, such a total over-reaction. I mean, yes in high school I got annoyed with the couple's who made out in everyone's way just like anyone else...but publically embarrassing any couple, and OUTING one is just so out of line.
I don't usually believe in monetary compensation for emotional damage (what good does it really do?) but it might be the only way to discourage people from behavior like this.

I think if she called all the mothers of the people on the list they have no right to be offended. She's trying to stop PDA between all students, not just the gay ones. And if "personal privacy" is an issue don't make out at school.

excuse me Brendelwoman, but nowhere does it say that these two specific men makeout in school. The principal compiled a list of all of the couples in school, I'm sure not every single couple madeout all through the halls (speaking as someone who was in high school a mere two years ago) The principals behavior was absolutely ridiculous on its own, but it is horrifying that she would out a student to a parent. There is no excuse for it and I'm sure she has caused many people considerable amounts of pain. There isn't a lawsuit because people were "offended" there is a lawsuit because she was out of line and turned the world of these people upside down. How could anyone defend this?

she didnt just call the mothers brendel, she posted the list for all to see.

PDA in a high school can be inappropriate, and make other students uncomfortable. Specific incidents should be stopped when they are observed.
But to ask for a list of names ? What is that? Sounds a little voyeurish to me. How does that do anything constructive? It could set up a situation that has the potential to end in tragedy. That principal deserves to be fired.

I read this and as much as I am sympathetic towards the two boys, the principal's intentions were not to 'out' gays in particular. If PDA is posing a problem at the school, there are definitely better methods of preventing it. A public list is not the answer as it only serves to humiliate the students in front of friends and family.

Furthermore, personal privacy and PDA is a complete oxymoron. It's not really private if you're doing it in public.

If this man seriously believes that posting a list of couples will cut down on PDA's, he's too stupid to BE the leader of the high school faculty.

However, the first thing that popped into my mind was: Who is to say he didn't do it to intentionally out these boys?

All a "couple list" is going to do is out EVERYBODY and straight couples don't really need to be outed, especially since what in the world is a list going to do to stop PDA's? Nothing.

Maybe it's simply because of my experiences in high school that I have a hard time giving any member of a highschool faculty the benefit of the doubt when it comes to gay teens, but if you ask me, I think the PDA story is a load of BS.

And WTF did the principal think he was doing calling their PARENTS!?

These boys do deserve compensation, because their lives just got turned into a three ring circus act by the people who should be working to protect them. It's hard enough to be gay in school, let alone trying to be gay when you just got outed to your entire school, your parents, etc.

I'm sorry, but I was outed to my entire school and I know what it did to me. It made my life a living hell and I wound up leaving school and getting my GED 2 years early because A) the students made my life a living hell, and B) the principal and most of the faculty proceeded to do everything they could to try to get me out of their school, going so far as to fail me during my 2nd semester of 10th grade, even though every one of my grades was passing, with mostly A's and B's.

So yes, the boys deserve compensation for what they've went through, are going to have to go through, and the hardship they're now going to face in high school, college, and clear up through their careers. The principal needs fired, the teachers need to be put through some kind of course on how to properly deal with students who are beautifully, wonderfully different and how to embrace diversity instead of being homophobic prats.

I am completely outraged! How unneccessary, and really just heartless.

Making a list up is absolutely ridiculous. Couples change constantly and there's no saying that PDA in high school is restricted to only couples. The teachers who notice this behavior should be the ones who stop it, not concocting a list.

The two boys have an absolute right to angry and the staff had no right to out them to the school, their family, and to make the kind of comments that they did.

I think they do deserve to be compensated for this trauma. Whoever above said that they were betrayed by the people who were supposed to protect them is 100% correct!

not only is posting a list immature, I wonder how school leaders have time for this crap. on another note, doesn't it sound vaguely like sexual harrassment? discrimination, or at least inappropriate? they brought up students personal lives (straight ones too) and for those who weren't doing anything wrong to begin with, that puts them in an uncomfortable spotlight. totally, utterly inappropriate. to me it's only a step away from inappropriate touching.

I wish I could've gotten a few PDA's in high school....(sigh)...

I think the problem with high school is that it's like a vacuumm condensed box of rules and regulations and in some cases unrealistic idealism. I assume the principal wasn't thinking of the ramifications and that is a major work flaw and her position should be examined as to her abilities to problem solve and develop realistic steps to help and educate her students. Clearly, she lacks empathy and understanding. I am suprised NO ONE else on the administration thought this was a bad idea.

Those boys have to suffer life changing consequences, perhaps she should too.

"And if "personal privacy" is an issue don't make out at school"

The list wasn't of kids that were guilty of PDA.
The list was of all of the "couples" at school.

Obviously if people didn't know they were gay before, then they weren't making out in the hallways.

So this discussion just reminded me of my personal PDA embarrassment... see, in jr high I had a boyfriend for the entire 8th grade year (yes, a 14 yr old lifetime) and we'd hold hands and sit by each other and were sickeningly lovey (remember 14 yo)... and every time we'd walk each other to class and kiss goodbye... and he'd always be standing with an arm around me... and while we weren't the ones making out in the halls, we were most visible displays of affection probably just because it was all year long. And so my homeroom teacher gave me the "most public display of affection award." I was MORTIFIED. As a budding feminist, I was outraged that I got that and my bf got some athletic award... and years later I have come to find it a little hilarious that I was both valedictorian of my jr high class and most PDA award winner.

PDA isn't a big deal, and schools all deal with it in their own ways. I disagree with the people that assume this principal was purposefully acting against these gay students... she was just likely blustering along and they were casualties to her actions.

Brendel: The problem is that she knew EXACLTY what she was doing when she posted the list with their names on it. She knew she was outing them. The controversy here is that she outed two closeted students and as everyone else stated before, they did NOT engage in the PDA she was trying to stop. She put two of her students in a unjust position. She outed him to his own mother! She deserves all the bad press and attention she gets.
One has to wonder though, how exactly she knew. That is what bothers me so much. How in the world did the principal find out?

How pissed am i? isnt it time that we as a country which is a melting pot of every culture and creed to get OVER!!!!!!! I personally dont care if a couple is gay or not! should the school not be happy that this is one less chance of teenage pregnancy happening? what makes it okay for jane and jim to show PDA yet a problem for JIMMY and JOHNNy? i understand we are not all there in the acceptance game but to out them is horrible? what dirty secrets do we all have and no one knows? shame on that principal!!! gone are the days when one could trust those in authority. i say we are all entitled to show our affection to whomever , wherever and be damned proud of it.I feel really bad for them. sometimes i am so ashamed of this country and its people. what ever happened tolerance?

obviously they were already "out" if they were publically displaying thier affections in school, but not "out" to thier parents right?

I have no problem with what the principal did, except for I think he should have made it a private issue with the couples, and told them that if it didnt stop, THEN he would call thier parents.

The heck with gay or not gay...that's an unacceptable move all the way around. The schools are not there to educate kids on social behavior. They're high schools, not finishing schools. It's the parents' responsibility to teach their kids to have healthy respect for the public when it comes to PDAs, not the school's.

Posting a list of couples in general is a violation of student's right. What is this going to do? I have been in the schools for while now gaining my certification to teach and there isn't a list around that will stop affection between couples. Instead, teachers and administrators must stay diligent to prevent such behavior. Does this list mean these couples can't stand near each other, be in the same class or walk down the hall? This principal was way out of line and should be disciplined. The job of an educator is to protect their students not cause the physical or emotional injury. I am appalled.

The whole concept of making a list really disturbs me. Ugh!

"obviously they were already "out" if they were publically displaying thier affections in school"

But the list was NOT of people who were guilty of PDA, it was people who teachers thought were dating. Big difference.

This is outrageous! We had PDA rules at our high school but this is ridiculous. Gay or not a list should have never been compiled. Dating in high school is hard enough without the whole world knowing about it. That principal should definately lose his job and the school board should have to fix this immediately.

The principal should have enough good sense to know that handling such a situation with gay students requires a certain degree of sensitivity. Some kids are kicked out of their homes for being gay even in 2008. She posted the couples for everyone to see? That's the stuff of quiet whispers not bold-faced listed.

That's being said, I've only been out of high school for three years and I don't remember the school having PDA issues. We made out on our own time. If the kids aren't mackin' in the middle of class, are they really disturbing anyone?

I completely understand the fact that the principal didn't thin PDA was appropriate within the school. However, I think she could have found a better way to handle the situation. Posting a list for the school to see, embarrassing the students, that move was just as immature as the students that she is supposed to be "overseeing". And I can't believe that they didn't allow him to go on the school trip because he would embarrass the school. It's like what century are we in ?!?!?! I'm pretty sure there are homosexual people in New Orleans. Homosexuality should not still be seen as something so taboo. It seems to me that the decision was made based on the principals personal thoughts and beliefs which is really not fair. as a future teacher/educator, I feel that you should be accepting of your students regardless of things such as sexual orientation and regardless of your personal beliefs. That should not be the deciding factor in whether or not a person is allowed to attend a class trip. With all that said, I'm not sure if or how the students should be compensated for this incident.

PDA can be a hugh problem at times. Before a PDA crackdown at my school, students were dry humping in the hallways. But making a list with supposed "couples" who may not even really be couples is ridiculous!!!

It seems to me that around us, from children to the old, we are surrounded by gays. These our friends, our loved ones, our children. We know many truly good people who just want to be loved, and free to love. How can we hate our friends, loved ones, our children? It is the truth of human existence that we fear what we don't understand. They are gay. It is O.K. Why would they CHOOSE something they fear will make those THEY love, hate or abandon them? Just because some religious rambling says so? We must follow our hearts, our souls. Love our people. ALL our people. It is so very important we do so. Or we will never be one as a people. Stop your child fearing you. Let them be the only thing they feel they can. Show them how to love themselves and to love in life honorably, with caring, and instill in them the future. This world is so many, with many voices screaming to be heard, when all these people want is love. Let them love, give them that right.

wait, so she figured that by posting the list of couples, she'd embarrass them into not holding hands anymore?
I have to say, PDA in high school was somewhat annoying...making out in the halls and such. But I don't mind people holding hands in the hallway as long as I can still get past them!
It sounds like maybe one teacher knew about the gay couple, and included it on the list...I think the principal was out of line to get involved in high school relationships, but teachers were also silly to comply...

Well, I have to say, and I think I'm going to take some flak for this, that the header for this post is a little misleading. Yes, the two boys were 'outed' because of the principals actions to stop and prevent PDA in school, however, that doesn't appear to have been the goal, focus, or intention of the principal. I wasn't in high school all that long ago, I was in about three schools, and NONE of them allowed ANY form of PDA. This principal seemed to have come up with a creative way to help put an end to PDA in school, and unfortunately for the two boys, they were outed to their parents. They do not seem to have been singled out, except for the teacher who prevented them from going on the trip THAT was out of line, but otherwise they were treated the same as every other student couple.

What strikes me as odd is that equal rights groups and homosexual advocacy groups strive for equality and equal treatment of everyone. In this case, they were treated (mostly) the same as everyone else, and the principal is getting sued over it. Ohhh the ironing...

If they didn't want anyone to find out they were gay, they should have hid it a little better than that. Not too tough to disguise the fact that you are dating. When I was in Advanced Indivual Training last year, there were very strict Army Regulations and DoD regulations restricting Initial Entry Soldiers from having relationships with one another. Lots of people dated each other there, especially since two of the Military Occupation Specialties were longterm (greater than 8-month) courses, and it wasn't tough for them to avoid detection. It just takes a little discretion, if you don't want to hide it, don't expect to never be discovered.

ps- the teacher who stopped the one boy from going on the school trip should be fired already.

i am a bisexual male high school student who has not told anyone about it except for one friend and if my principle had outed me to my class mates and my family i would not no how to deal with it so its kind of outrageous

I think this is a flagrant disregard of students' privacy, gay or not. The added discrimination (that was clearly institutionalised, from the account of the young man's banishment from the school trip) only adds insult to injury. Children have rights, and I think we as a society are sliding down the slope of forgetting that. Minors are not property just because they can't own property.

I think this is primarily an issue of privacy being invaded, and secondarily a gay rights issue.

As a side note, I think the principal's initial obsession with PDA is quite disturbing, and wholly unrealistic. Adolescents are emotionally and hormonally charged. Trying to keep them from holding hands, snogging, hugging, cuddling, petting, &c. is like trying to keep rabbits from chewing on things. You can only curb it a teeny bit ('don't chew on this particular thing'), not stop it entirely ('don't chew on ANYTHING'). And calling it a 'war on PDA' is just...like I said, *really* disturbing, to me.