As much as I deplore the message that Heidi Zamecnik, a high school senior in Illinois, was trying to get across when she wore a T-shirt to school that said "Be happy, not gay". Ms. Zamecnik, described as a "Christian with strong religious beliefs", wore the shirt on her school's annual "Day of Silence" which is intended to "promote tolerance of alternative lifestyles" and the school banned her from wearing the shirt.
She is now suing the Indian Prairie School District and wants to wear the shirt again this year on the "Day of Silence".
I believe Ms. Zamecnik's ideas are wrong, misguided and clearly bigoted. However they do not espouse violence, which is the only restriction that I believe can and should be put on free speech, and therefore she should be allowed to express her opinions if she so wishes. Her fellow students are also free to ostracise her if they so wish.
She is now suing the Indian Prairie School District and wants to wear the shirt again this year on the "Day of Silence".
I believe Ms. Zamecnik's ideas are wrong, misguided and clearly bigoted. However they do not espouse violence, which is the only restriction that I believe can and should be put on free speech, and therefore she should be allowed to express her opinions if she so wishes. Her fellow students are also free to ostracise her if they so wish.
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