That wasn't national news, though, despite the student-led protest--a "kiss-in" consisting mostly of the more open-minded student body making out in a field.

Even if there were a court case that were decided in the kid's favor, he would likely get no or almost no money. The court would require that the district change its policy, and that he be "made whole" for the costs of the descrimination. How much would that be? The price of a yearbook?

The only way this kid is going to get a bunch of cash out of this is if the school pays him to shut up and go away. Or if the gay press starts paying for interviews.

But perhaps I'm giving her too much credit, assuming that her logic has some internal consistency when in fact she is just prejudiced and assumed she could get away with it.

Bolden should know better than to apply a double standard. It is two thousand fucking seven for god's sake! I bet they wish they had included "no kissing shots" on their list of prohibited pics. Right up there with "no gang signs."

The school officials might backtrack because they believe a wrong decision was made and are genuinely repentant. The school officials might backtrack to avoid an avalanche of public excoriation. But the school officials will not backtrack because they are legally obligated to do so. Because they aren't.

Doesn't he have a contract with the school? If their yearbook is anything like my high school's, what you do is you, or your parents, buy a page, or a part of a page, and fill it with whatever you want. Usually some kind of congrats message, or a montage of your life, or something cute to express who you are. You purchase that page, are given guidelines on what can and cannot be printed, what sizes, what subject matter, and beyond that it's up to you. In fact, my school had us sign an agreement saying we would abide by the rules and insisted on editorial review to make sure our pages did follow the rules.

I kind of think the school probably did have a contract of some sort, or at least a list of expected material given to the student at point of purchase. I'm not sure, but I would think a list of excluded material given at point of purchase of a page whose primary purpose is to carry material of your choosing would count as some sort of contract, no?

First, the agreement probably has words to the effect that the school reserves final editorial control. Second, the agreement probably expressly forbids "sexually suggestive" content; the fact that the school elected not to enforce that clause with others doesn't mean that it forfeits the right to enforce it with him. Finally, even if the school did breach the contract, the remedy would just be for them to return his consideration, i.e. the yearbook fee.

That leaves anti-discrimination laws as the only basis for a legal complaint. And I don't believe those really apply, for the reasons I outlined above. I am still waiting for Dan to cite the specific statue he believes applies, though.

Call it whatever you want - anti-gay, discriminatory, whatever. Most people, and I'm thinking upwards of 80% of Americans, have an instinct to gag when they see two dudes kissing.

I think you queer Seattle fuckers are a bit out of touch with what the general consensus around the country is.

And I'm curious. Who initiated the nationwide poll that showed that "80& of Americans have an instinct to gag whenever they see two dudes kissing"?

I know I sure don't gag... and several of my girl friends kind of get off on it.

Personally, I like all forms of PDA as long as they don't involve household pets, but even then I'm not all that bothered.

But you Seattle fuckers are still a little out of your tree. Seriously.

These are America's war wounded, a toll that has received less attention than the 3,500 troops killed in Iraq. Depending on how you count them, they number between 35,000 and 53,000.