Wichita Kansas School Paper Publishes Student Opinion Suggesting Homosexuality A Disruption That Should Be Kept Out Of School; School District Defends Decision To Publish Opinion That Also Deems Homosexuality An Abomination

KSN-3 reports that several students and parents at a Wichita, Kansas high school are angry over an opinion’s piece in the school’s paper that referenced two Biblical verses; one calling homosexuality an abomination, the second suggesting homosexuals should be put to death. The opinion piece, titled "Homosexual teens alienated by current societal trends,” ostensibly addressing the issues of gay youth in school. The student author suggested that homosexuality is a disruption and should be kept out of school. Jae Leonhardt, a student, said “They have their right to their opinions, but stating it in the way that he did is messed up.” Another student, Brent Ensign, said “The way he phrased it was just wrong. I mean first of all church and state are separate.” The Wichita School District defended the publication of the opinion, a spokesperson saying it was one writer’s opinion, and not that of the entire journalism staff, adding that “Staff by law cannot stop the article if it is not libellous, slanderous, and doesn’t cause a disruption.” One parent, who did not want to be identified, said “Whether it’s grade school, high school, or middle school, if they have a weekly newspaper, announcements or something like that, you cannot get that personal.”