Missouri High School Removes Two Student’s Quotes from Yearbook About Them Being Gay
Two gay high school students whose quotes were removed from their senior yearbook say they’re “disheartened and angry” at the “senseless censorship” behind the move.
A Missouri high school is now apologizing after censoring yearbook quotes of two openly gay students from their graduating class.
Joey Slivinski and Thomas Swartz, the two affected students, opened the 2017 yearbook and saw that their quotes were removed without their permission or knowledge.
Swartz has wanted his senior quote to read, “If Harry Potter taught us anything, it’s that no one should have to live in the closet.” Slivinski, who wanted his quote to read. “Of course I dress well. I didn’t spend all that time in the closet for nothing,” says he opened his yearbook to just a blank space.
In a statement released by the school district, the board said the removal of the quotes has the “unintentional consequence of offending the very students the practice was designed to protect.”
They went on to be remorseful for limiting the speech of the students. “We sincerely apologize to those students,” the statement said. “All KSD staff understand the importance of inclusion and acceptance especially in an educational setting.” Lastly, they hope their mistake will serve as an opportunity to learn for the future.
