Date: Tue, 15 Nov 1994 12:18:57 -0600 (CST)
From: Kevyn Jacobs <kevyn@ksu.ksu.edu>
Subject: ACLU: STEVENA CASE ET AL. V. OLATHE SCHOOL DISTRICT


ASSAULT ON LIBRARIES INTENSIFIES, BUT CITIZENS GROUPS RESIST CENSORSHIP

[Select portion reproduced without permission by the Land of Awes Information
Services from the ACLU Arts Censorship Project Newsletter (no copyright)]

Stevena Case et al. v. Olathe School District, Kansas, et al.  In this chool
library censorhip case, the district superintendent ordered removal of all
copies of Annie on My Mind, a gay-oriented novel for young readers, from school
district libraries following noisy and vitriolic homophobic protests; the
superentendent said he wished to avoid controversy.  A group of students,
parents, and teachers are claiming violation of their First Amendment rights. 
The school district has filed partial motions to dismiss the case on the ground
that three of the four student plaintiffs have graduated (a perennial problem
in school censorship litigation).  An amended complaint has been filed adding
younger plaintiffs and pointing out that school library facilities are
available to graduated students and other members of the community.

Community members, especially youngsters, have rallied behind Annie,
distributing "Save Annie" buttons, and participating in the world premiere
production of a play based on the book at the Renegade Youth Theater in
Lawrence, Kansas, in November.