Morgan Armstrong, a senior at Tennessee Christian Preparatory School (TCPS) in Cleveland (about 30 miles northeast of Chattanooga), is suing her high school, alleging they suspended her and are withholding her diploma after she posted on social media that she was gay, according to local news station WSMV.
The lawsuit was filed last Monday, with Armstrong claiming the school’s actions violate her rights.
Newsweek reached out TCPS via email on Saturday outside of normal business hours for comment.
Why It Matters
LGBTQ+ youth face significantly elevated risk factors, including higher rates of school-related stress and discrimination, according to the Oregon Judicial Department.
Research from the department indicates that supportive school environments are crucial protective factors for LGBTQ+ students, while rejection and exclusion can increase risks of mental health challenges and academic disruption.
The outcome of the lawsuit could influence how private schools handle similar situations and may impact discussions around religious freedom versus anti-discrimination protections in educational settings.
What To Know
On what should have been her graduation day, Armstrong and her family held a small protest across the street from the ceremony. “It was difficult having to stand across the street knowing that the people I’ve grown up with for the last four years were able to walk across the stage and I wasn’t allowed to,” Armstrong told WSMV.
Armstrong, a star basketball player, posted pictures online of herself with her girlfriend, including one showing them kissing, with the caption “cat’s out of the bag.” She acknowledged anticipating mixed reactions, telling the news station, “It was nerve-wracking because I knew everyone would have different opinions, some would like it, some would hate it.”
Before posting publicly, Armstrong sent a private message to ten friends asking them to support her post, writing: “Go and comment on my post, I have some ruthless Trump supporting ‘Jesus’ mfs on there.” The school later obtained this private message, though it remains unclear how they accessed the communication.
During a meeting with principal Kylie Machacek and head of schools Jared Tilley, Armstrong’s family was presented with a letter stating she had made “disparaging remark, reflecting the people at Tennessee Christian” and that her comment “reflected on the institution, facility, staff, alumni and students in the most negative possible way.” The letter banned her from campus and all school events, including graduation, with a threat to forward her posts to colleges if violations continued.
According to the school’s disciplinary policies, first-time social media violations should typically result in a one-day school suspension, not the more severe punishment Armstrong received.
What People Are Saying
Morgan’s mother, Monica Armstrong, told WSMV: “I was shocked and then I went to anger. I’m not sure how they can legally threaten to withhold it because she speaks her truth.”
Armstrong family attorney Daniel Horwitz told WSMV: “Morgan did not write anything about the school at any time. She didn’t post anything about the school, and the private message was not about the school. That’s OK, follow your own disciplinary policy. Which the school did not do here.”
Head of schools for Tennessee Christian Preparatory School, Jared Tilley, released a statement to Chattanooga news station WRCB-TV: “Tennessee Christian Preparatory School firmly rejects the misleading allegations outlined in a recent lawsuit supposedly filed against the school. As of 11:00 AM on May 22, we have yet to be served with process for the alleged lawsuit.
He added: “The administration and Board of Trustees express deep disappointment over the inaccuracies contained in the alleged filing by Daniel A. Horwitz with Horwitz Law in Nashville. Despite this supposed legal dispute, Tennessee Christian remains fully committed to delivering Morgan Armstrong’s diploma. Our goal continues to be the academic and personal success of each student, even in the face of conflict or disagreement. We wish Morgan Armstrong the very best as she continues her academics in college.”
Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
What Happens Next
The lawsuit seeks to allow Armstrong to take her finals, receive her diploma, and prevent the school from contacting colleges about her social media posts.