Around The Nation

Pennsylvania

ACLU Sets May 3 Deadline For Apology To Transgender Student Issak Wolfe

RED LION. PA -- A spokesperson for the American Civil Liberties Union told reporters Monday that legal action will be sought in the case of the transgender student who was barred from participating in a prom election in his gender identity.

Molly Tack-Hooper noted that although that Issak Wolfe, a senior at Red Lion Area High School had been allowed to attend Saturday's prom with his girlfriend, school officials still had not apologised for the actions of principal Mark Shue following the prom court election controversy.

Shue decided to place Wolfe on the prom court ballot two weeks ago under prom queen and under his birth name of Sierra Stambaugh. That action was despite Wolfe's identifying himself as a transgender male for several years and asking to run as a prom king candidate.

Tack-Hooper noted that the apology is part of a letter dated April 26 sent to the district. A Friday, May 3 deadline was set by the ACLU for a response by Red Lion.

"There's very clear liability for the school district," Tack-Hooper said.

The had also been a potential controversy erupt over the school's initial refusal to allow Wolfe's 19 year old girlfriend, Taylor Thomas, a Red Lion graduate, from attending prom on Saturday because she made critical remarks about Red Lion on Facebook. 

Tack-Hooper said Shue that relented after conversations between school officials and the ACLU. Wolfe's father, William Stambaugh said; "Everything went fine. It went off really well."

One of the other listed demands in the ACLU letter is to allow Wolfe to participate in the graduation ceremonies as a male, wearing the boys' graduation garments, which are black, instead of the yellow cap and gown for girls.

The organisation also asked that school officials notify Wolfe that they will announce him as "Issak Wolfe" at graduation and allow him to wear the black boys' cap and gown.

Wolfe said he understands the diploma, which is a legal document, would still have his legal name on it, since he hasn't changed it yet. But the other recognition of his gender matters.

"It's embarrassing at this point in my life to have my name read as the wrong name," Wolfe said. "I don't want to be forced to wear yellow because I'm not a girl. My family and I both want this so they can remember it the right way."

Red Lion Superintendent Scott Deisley has repeatedly declined to comment on the situation telling reporters that he wished to "respect the privacy" of those parties involved.

Connecticut

ESPN Standing By NBA Reporter Chris Broussard 

BRISTOL, CT -- ESPN is standing by NBA reporter Chris Broussard after his controversial comments about Jason Collins. In an appearance on ESPN’s Outside the Lines, Broussard was asked for his personal opinion on Collins’s comments, and he didn’t hold back. He said he believes homosexuality is an “open rebellion” against God.

ESPN's Josh Krulewitz said the network regrets that a discussion of personal viewpoints became a "distraction." The network offered its own view of Collins' news: "ESPN is fully committed to diversity and welcomes Jason Collins' announcement," it said in a statement released Monday.

During his appearance on Monday' broadcast Broussard  said;

"Personally, I don’t believe that you can live an openly homosexual lifestyle or an openly premarital sex between heterosexuals, if you’re openly living that type of lifestyle, then the Bible says you know them by their fruits, it says that’s a sin. 

If you’re openly living in unrepentant sin, whatever it may be, not just homosexuality, adultery, fornication, premarital sex between heterosexuals, whatever it may be, I believe that’s walking in open rebellion to God and to Jesus Christ. 

I would not characterize that person as a Christian because I do not think the Bible would characterize them as a Christian.” 

Broussard in an online message on Tuesday said that he had previously discussed his point of view about homosexuality publicly.

"I realize that some people disagree with my opinion, and I accept and respect that," he wrote. "As has been the case in the past, my beliefs have not and will not impact my ability to report on the NBA. I believe Jason Collins displayed bravery with his announcement ... and I have no objection to him or anyone else playing in the NBA."

Collins, in an interview with ABC News anchorman George Stephanopoulos on Good Morning America Monday evening, said of Broussard’s comments, “I am a Christian. I will state that very proudly…. You can’t please everyone." Collins later qualified his remarks in a follow up interview with The New York Times on Tuesday, noted that he is a Christian, too.

"This is all about tolerance and acceptance and America is the best country in the world because we're all entitled to our opinions and beliefs but we don't have to agree," he said. "And obviously I don't agree with his statement."