School administrators at a high school
in Indio, California say they cannot do anything to prevent students
from wearing symbols targeting the LGBT community.
Several students at Shadow Hills High
School are wearing badges that cross-out the colors of the rainbow
flag, a symbol of the LGBT rights movement.
According to The
Desert Sun, administrators claim the badges are protected
speech.
“After consulting with district level
personnel and our legal counsel, it was determined that these
students do have the protected right to freedom of speech, just as
students portraying rainbows in support of the LGBT would,” the
administration wrote in a recent email to staff.
Shadow Hills is located 25 miles east
of the liberal city of Palm Springs, which has elected three openly
gay mayors, including its current mayor, Robert Moon.
While the students wearing the
crossed-out rainbows have been told they cannot be disruptive, many
students feel more needs to be done.
“[Students] are upset more has not
been done,” the paper quotes history teacher Amy Oberman. “Yes,
you can have your opinion, but when you target a group, you cross the
line.”