ACLU Contests Va. Schools Gay Website Ban

The American Civil Liberties Union is demanding that the Prince William County, Va., school district remove computer filtering software that bars access to websites that offer support to gays and lesbians. The filtering software, called Blue Coat, does allow access to anti-gay sites, The Washington Post reported.

Virginia’s ACLU executive director Kent Willis says the group understands the need to screen out adult sites. However, the ACLU said the software allows sites such People Can Change and Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays, which promote the idea that gays can become straight, but bars sites such as Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network and It Gets Better, that offer support for gay students, the Post reported.

School spokesman Ken Blackstone said the district was looking at the ACLU’s letter, “we’ll be thoroughly reviewing it and we’ll respond to them.” The ACLU letter was also sent to school districts in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Texas who also use Blue Coat, the Post said.