A combination of national media attention, petitions, and involvement from HRC made this story a nightmare for the school and a rallying cry for LGBT high schoolers. Earlier this month, administrators at Arkansas’ Sheridan High School removed openly gay Taylor Ellis’ yearbook profile because he talked about his coming out. Superintendent Dr. Brenda Haynes signed off on the decision, declaring that they wouldn’t “make decisions based on the demands of any special interest group.” The story took off after Taylor’s friend and yearbook editor, Hannah, posted the story on the Student Press Law Center. Within 90 minutes, a local television news crew was waiting outside the school for Taylor. The next day students started bullying Taylor. Teachers ignored their behavior until Taylor talked to his Spanish teacher who took him to see his counselor at school.
The Arkansas Student Publications Act of 1995 mandates that students have the final say in what is and isn’t published in campus publications barring any obscene or libelous material. This is Taylor Ellis’ profile:
“I use [sic] to be scared to say that I’m gay. It’s not fun keeping secrets; after I told everyone, it felt like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders.†He also said, “Some guys are more reserved around me now. But not a lot of people have been mean about it, thank God. I’m actually in a good situation. I’m very lucky.â€
All the LGBT community is lucky because of Taylor Ellis’ bravery. For more information, click here.
