Teen starts antiabortion club at school

[JTFrog]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21647152/

For Stephanie Hoffmeier, it came down to believing in a power higher than a school system.

With prayer, persistence and a lawsuit against the Stafford County schools, the 16-year-old recently succeeded in starting what might be the region's only antiabortion club in a public high school. The Pro-Life Club, which attracted about 20 people to its first gathering, also promotes teen sexual abstinence as well as opposing abortion. Hoffmeier said her legal fight was a matter of equity.

"We just wanted the same rights as other clubs," Hoffmeier said in an interview last week at her Fredericksburg home. "It's not a radical thing to expect equal treatment."

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Ayesha N. Khan, legal director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said there is often confusion about whether religious speech is allowed in public schools. She said there is a distinction between the private speech of students and the government speech of school employees. The federal Equal Access Act forbids schools from denying student-run clubs based on a club's religious or other perspective, she said. For instance, students also have the right to start an abortion-rights club, although local school officials said they were unaware of any.

[Ian David]

1. Thanks, Stephanie, for starting the Unprotected Oral and Anal Sex Club! n/t

[Maine-ah]

2. when I was sixteen I felt the same as this girl

she'll probably change her mind when she's a little older.

[BlueJazz]

3. Sounds Cool...Maybe I can talk my neighbor's Daughter into starting a.....

"Anti-Idiot-Republican-Club"

They can meet Here >>

[DangerDave921]

4. Good for her

Seriously. I like to see young people - from whatever political stripe - getting involved in the political process and actively doing something. I see so many teens just wasting their lives. At least she is involved. But I also suspect her views will evolve over time. She is young, after all, and it is probably her parents' views she is espousing.

[Beer Snob-50]

5. i congratulate her for her actions

she believes in something, and she is taking action in support of those beliefs. while i don't agree with her stand she has that right.