Daphne Beasley (pictured to the right), the principal at Hollis F. Price Middle College High School, reportedly demanded that all of her staff bring her a list of all student couples (heterosexual or homosexual) so as to “cut down” on public displays of affection. However, upon receiving the name of a gay couple on her campus, she decided to take some further action herself.
One student quoted, named Nicholas, was a junior who was not out-of-the-closet to his family, though Beasley essentially did this herself when informing the student’s mother that her son did not have a girlfriend, but rather, a boyfriend.
According to the statement released by the Memphis School District, the “call list” was “used by Beasley to ‘notify the parents of those children she knew to be involved romantically’ after the school received ‘numerous complaints’ of ‘explicit sexual behavior in public view’.” The “list” was also posted publicly in the principal’s office.
The ACLU has gotten wind of the issue, and is threatening legal action, as this has violated the privacy of the students. It sure sounds like a cheap way of purporting some crazy principal’s homophobia to me.
