Gay Ad Booted From School Paper

HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA - Student newspapers are sometimes faced with difficult editorial decisions, just like regular papers.
Common Roads, a group in Harrisburg that provides a meeting place for young gays and lesbians, ran into trouble when it recently tried to place ads in student newspapers, reported WGAL-TV in Lancaster, Pa.
The small advertisement goes to the heart of some big issues -- freedom of expression and censorship.
The student newspaper at Lampeter Strasburg High School ran the ad for Common Roads in its November issue -- only to have it pulled.
The ad invited gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth to check out the group.
"It's just saying we're here if you need us. Check us out," said Carol Reisinger, executive director of Common Roads.
The superintendent of the Lampeter Strasburg school district, Dr. Robert Frick, nixed the ad after the papers were printed.
They were reprinted without it. Other school papers refused to take the ad from the beginning.
Frick wouldn't go on camera, but he told the television station that the advertisement encouraged students to attend "something we know nothing about."
Evan Macy is the editor in chief of the paper, The Limelight. He said he's upset about the superintendent's decision.
"The fact our school is going out of its way to take an advertisement, meant to help homosexuals, out of the newspaper is alarming," Macy said.
The students may have the law on their side.
Pennsylvania has an administrative code, which grants students more rights to freedom of expression than are granted by a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the matter known as Hazelwood.
"It very carefully explains what students can and cannot do and what administrators can and cannot do. That's what I like about it. It's a nice balance," said George Taylor of the Pennsylvania School Press Association.
Taylor said not knowing about the group may not be reason enough to censor the ad.
"How much does he know about the U.S. Army or U.S. Navy? Has he been in them? School newspapers often have military ads or college ads," Taylor said.
Reisinger said young people gather at Common Roads for social activities or educational programs.
Reisinger said she is not surprised by the rejection of the ad.
"I think administrators are afraid the community will see that as promoting or aligning with a gay organization, which is preposterous," she said.
Reisinger said the group doesn't plan to pursue the matter. But Taylor said the matter is a good lesson in journalism.
The Foundation for Enhancing Communities gave Common Roads a grant for the advertising campaign.
from NBC4.TV