Leo Jr. Sr. High School has imposed undue, unequal burdens on Leo Pride Alliance. Leo Pride Alliance is a student-led organization for high school students at Leo Jr. Sr. High School that provides a safe and supportive environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, and intersex students and their cisgender supporters.
Throughout the country student clubs such as Leo Pride Alliance are known as “gay straight alliances” or “GSAs.” When Leo students sought to establish a GSA as one of the clubs at the high school, administrators would not allow the club to be called “Leo GSA.” School administrators insisted the club be called “Leo Pride Alliance,” with “Pride” referring to an acronym used by the school, “Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Diligence, and Excellence. In addition, club members may not use the words gay, GSA, or LGBT+, or similar language, in any of the announcements or promotions for the club. Unlike other clubs, the Leo Pride Alliance is not allowed to meet outside of a single classroom, or participate in school fundraisers. In addition, the faculty advisor of Leo Pride Alliance is also required to send a list of all club members to all faculty. Since this has started some students have stopped attending the group.
The unequal burdens imposed upon the Leo Pride Alliance violate the Equal Access Act, 20 U.S.C. § 4071, et seq., the First Amendment, and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
An agreement was reached on January 18, 2019. EACS has agreed to allow Leo Pride Alliance to change its name to Leo GSA (Gay Straight Alliance), and to provide the organization with all meeting, communication and fundraising opportunities provided to other groups.
