Filed Date: Jan. 28, 2011
Closed Date: 2011
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On January 28, 2011, two high school seniors who were in a lesbian relationship filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against their school district. The plaintiffs, represented by private counsel and the Southern Poverty Law Center and the National Center for Lesbian Rights, asked the court for injunctive relief claiming that the school had violated the plaintiffs' rights to freedom of expression and equal protection under the First and Fourteenth Amendments. Specifically, the plaintiffs claimed that the school had canceled a festival procession because the two girls had planned to walk in as a couple.
The plaintiffs were elected to Royalty Court and announced their intention to walk together in the processional as a couple. Historically, when members of Royalty Court have been permitted to choose their processional partner and when a male student and female student in a relationship have both been elected to Royalty Court, they have been permitted to walk together. Plaintiffs were told that they could not walk together as a couple and that the school was going to cancel the processional.
The case was settled on January 31, 2001 with an agreement that allowed the plaintiffs to walk in the procession together. The District Court (Judge Susan Richard Nelson) dismissed the case after plaintiffs filed a voluntary notice of dismissal on January 31, 2011.
Summary Authors
Patrick Branson (9/24/2014)
Mayeron, Janie S. (Minnesota)
Nelson, Susan Richard (Minnesota)
Chow, Emily E (Minnesota)
Dolan, Christopher H. (Minnesota)
Ponto, Michael A. (Minnesota)
Mayeron, Janie S. (Minnesota)
Nelson, Susan Richard (Minnesota)
Last updated Feb. 18, 2024, 3:16 a.m.
State / Territory: Minnesota
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: Jan. 28, 2011
Closing Date: 2011
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Two 18-year old female students who identify as a lesbian couple.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Attorney Organizations:
National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR)
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Anoka−Hennepin School District, School District
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Constitutional Clause(s):
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff
Nature of Relief:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Content of Injunction:
Implement complaint/dispute resolution process
Issues
LGBTQ+:
Discrimination-basis:
Affected Sex or Gender: