A lawsuit to get Lake County to allow a Gay-Straight Alliance Club at one of its schools will go forward.
A group of students and the American Civil Liberties Union is suing the Lake County School Board to get the right to have the club at Carver Middle School.
The school district tried to have the lawsuit dismissed, but the judge rejected that.
The school district has been resistant. Last year the district settled an ACLU lawsuit to allow members to temporarily meet till the end of the 2012-2013 school year.
The board then approved a plan to forbid clubs unless they fall within the athletic, arts, business, or academic criteria.
However, the ACLU contends the policy only came about in the wake of the students trying to bring a GSA to their school. In the lawsuit they also say other non-curricular clubs have been approved across the district.
The students want the Gay-Straight Alliance as a way to support people who feel bullied in school because they are gay. The goal of the GSAs is to combat homophobia and discrimination, and encourage a safe learning environment.
GSAs exist in schools across the country.
We reached out to the school district after business hours for a comment. We have not heard back yet.