High Schooler Censored By School Administration Over Saying He's Gay
Knight Insight to be highlighted in its Senior Spotlight series. The paper sent the 17-year-old several questions to answer, including one that asked about the biggest challenge he’s had to overcome.In a viral TikTok video, which has been seen more than 65,000 times, Johnson said he had responded: “The biggest challenge I faced was growing up gay and coming out.
I had to learn how to become comfortable in my own skin and how to stay strong through bullying and all the negative experiences I had while trying to navigate through life.”After Johnson submitted the responses to the newspaper, O’Brien stopped him in the hall and asked to see him in his office.
The principal proceeded to tell him that he had to re-write his story: specifically the part about the challenges he’s faced, the part where he’s gay.When Johnson asked why he said that O’Brien responded that it was nothing personal and it was only due to policies in place at the school.
It was just out of his hands. Johnson told the principal that he would rather the school paper not run the story at all than change it.The policy, O’Brien told Johnson, prohibits any references to “sexuality, orientation, religion, or illegal drugs” in the Senior Spotlight.“You’re such a unique student, such a positive face in our community.
