Teacher sues after she's suspended for having 4 LGBTQ books in classroom: report

An Ohio teacher is suing her school district after she was reprimanded and ultimately suspended for having books with LGBTQ characters in her classroom.

Karen Cahall, an elementary school teacher, filed a federal case against the school board, Superintendent Tracey Miller and board members Todd Wells, Tim DuFau, Robert Wooten, Jonathan Zimmerman and Amy Story, The Cincinnati Enquirer reported Friday.

"Cahall maintains sincere and deeply rooted moral and religious beliefs that all children, including children who are LGBTQ+ or the children of parents who are LGBTQ+, deserve to be respected, accepted, and loved for who they are," her lawsuit reads.

So far, the school district won't comment.

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The report said there is no policy specifically regarding book bans, only a blanket "controversial issues" rule.

It says that topics "likely to arouse both support and opposition in the community" are allowed to be taught in classrooms so long as they are related to the class's instructional goals, encourage open-mindedness, and teachers don't "tend to indoctrinate or persuade students to a particular point of view."

Anything outside the curriculum has to be approved by a principal.

Cahall called the rule unconstitutional and said it was the reason she was suspended without pay.

Four books with LGBTQ characters were on the shelf in her classroom, along with about 100 other books available to students. The lawsuit noted they weren't prominently displayed and she never read from or taught them, nor required students to read them.

They were simply on the shelf. The lawsuit also said there's no sexual activity in the books, rather their characters "are coming to terms with feeling different and excluded."

Parent Kayla Shaw complained. Cahall has taught in the school district for more than 30 years.

Conservatives have used their faith to censor books in the past, The Interfaith Alliance noted in September ahead of new congressional legislation.

“Censorship is a religious freedom issue — book banning is a political strategy that could silence diverse religious voices and traditions that are a major part of the rich social fabric of America,” said Interfaith Alliance president, Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush. “Sadly, many who want to ban books use religion as their excuse to target LGBTQIA+ voices, communities of color, and many others. In fact, most people of faith and conscience in this country oppose these harmful efforts – and stand firmly behind the right to read.”

The superintendent said Cahall knew the books were banned because her request was denied to include them in the library.

"You subsequently placed the books in your classroom library without putting them through the established approval process," a disciplinary letter Miller sent to Cahall said.

"It is my sincere hope that you will internalize the discipline you are receiving and that you will reflect upon this in order to change," Miller continued. "However, if you continue to behave in this manner in the future, you will be subjected to more severe discipline up to and including termination of your employment."