A Texas school suspended a 14-year-old boy for two days for telling a classmate he thought homosexuality was wrong.
According to Fox News and other media outlets, Dakota Ary was in a German class at the high school when the conversation shifted to religion and homosexuality. At some point during the conversation, he turned to a friend and said that he was a Christian and “being a homosexual is wrong.”
“It wasn’t directed to anyone except my friend who was sitting behind me,” Dakota told Fox. “I guess [the teacher] heard me. He started yelling. He told me he was going to write me an infraction and send me to the office.”
According to Fox, Dakota, an honors student, was given a one day in-school suspension – and two days of full suspension.
Dakota’s mom, Holly Pope said she was “absolutely stunned” when she received a phone call informing her that the school had suspended her son.
There are indications the teacher may have been a homosexual.
Matt Krause, an attorney with the Liberty Counsel said the teacher had frequently brought homosexuality into ninth grade classroom discussions.
“There has been a history with this teacher in the class regarding homosexual topics,” Krause said. “The teacher had posted a picture of two men kissing on a wall that offended some of the students.”
“He told the students this is happening all over the world and you need to accept the fact that homosexuality is just part of our culture now,” Krause said.
After Dakota’s mom contacted the the Liberty Counsel, the school rescinded the two-day suspension so Dakota would be allowed to play in an upcoming football game.
“They’ve righted all the wrongs,” Krause said. “I told the school that he should never have been suspended for exercising his Constitutional rights,” Krause told Fox News Radio. “The principal is sincere in trying to do the right thing and hopefully they will tell the teacher, ‘Do not do that anymore.’ He won’t be pushing his agenda.”
Dakota has returned to the teacher’s classroom and the Liberty Council is monitoring the situation to make sure there is no retaliation.
“He should never have been punished,” said Dakota’s mom.
“My son knows people that are homosexual,” she said. “He’s not saying, ‘I don’t like you.’ He’s saying, ‘I’m a Christian and I believe that being that way is wrong.’”