Michigan dad takes legal action against Grosse Pointe school for banning pride flag video

Michigan Father Sues School District Over Constitutional Rights Violation

A father in Michigan is taking legal action against the Grosse Pointe Public School System, alleging that his constitutional rights were violated when he was barred from school grounds after posting a video featuring a rainbow flag and a transgender flag at a middle school.

The lawsuit, filed on Monday, outlines how Gary Shane Pruitt attended a “back to school night” at Parcells Middle School around September 3, 2024, where he noticed several pride flags displayed. Following this event, he expressed his concerns to school officials, but was told by Roy Bishop Jr., the assistant superintendent for educational services, that no changes were anticipated, and he should contact the school board for further assistance.

In a rather striking interaction, a school board member, Valerie St. John, told Pruitt that if he was worried about his child seeing these colors, perhaps he should send them to school with tinted sunglasses to mitigate the exposure.

Pruitt later shared a video of the pride flag on a parents’ Facebook page on October 14, 2024. He mentioned that, on September 20, 2024, he received permission from school officials to film the flags displayed in various areas of the school later that evening, assuring there were no students present at the time, and he didn’t reveal any identities in the video.

Principal Jason Wesley subsequently emailed all parents, stating that while the video didn’t contain any threatening material, it was seen as “political,” and the school would increase police presence at the school following this incident.

Despite reiterating that he did not intend any harm and was simply exercising his right to free speech, Pruitt received a “No Trespassing” notice from the Grosse Pointe Police Department on October 21, 2024.

The lawsuit argues that Pruitt did not violate any school policies, disturb anyone, or make threats while on school grounds. However, his photo was posted in the school office, identifying him as a trespasser, leading to negative repercussions for his child, who was allegedly ridiculed by peers.

The suit seeks to annul the “no trespassing” order against Pruitt, remove any related photographs and statements from school property, and declare the school’s actions unconstitutional and a violation of Pruitt’s fundamental rights.

Andrea Tuttle, the Superintendent of Grosse Pointe Public Schools, stated to FOX News Digital that the district is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all students and staff while adhering to board policies about school access. She emphasized that unauthorized entry into classrooms could necessitate enforcement actions to maintain safety.