The ACLU of Minnesota sued the Detroit Lakes Public School District and four board members on behalf of two students and their parents, challenging a ban on Pride symbols in school facilities and alleging discrimination and violations of student rights.
The suit was filed in state court and will be heard in Becker County District Court. The ACLU says four board members voted July 27 to bar rainbow stickers, posters, flags, buttons and other Pride items from all district facilities. Some teachers had used small Pride stickers on classroom doors to welcome LGBTQ+ students, the group said. It says the proposal was not on the official agenda, giving the community no advance notice or chance to object; after community members raised concerns at an August meeting, the board did not adopt a resolution to postpone the ban’s implementation.
The lawsuit alleges the ban violates the Minnesota Human Rights Act and students’ state-constitutional rights to free speech and equal protection; it also claims the vote breached Minnesota’s Open Meeting Law. Plaintiffs seek a permanent injunction blocking the ban and civil penalties against board members John Steffl, Sanford Nelson, Michelle Okeson and Michael Walther. Superintendent Mark Jenson did not immediately respond to The Advocate’s email request for comment.
