WATCH: Male cheerleader at TX high school kicked off squad, suspended over gay kiss

A male cheerleader at Alice High School in South Texas has been kicked off the squad and suspended from school for kissing another male student. The 17-year-old senior said the kiss was caught on a surveillance camera in the high school’s band hall, leading him to believe he was being monitored because of his sexual orientation. KRISTV.com in Corpus Christi reports:

The young man spent countless hours practicing every day for years to make the varsity cheer squad, and he had it all taken away from him in an instant.

Perhaps most surprising, is the way the student was caught. Not in person by a teacher, but by surveillance camera, leading the young man to believe he was being watched and targeted by school officials simply because of his sexual orientation.

“They never check cameras for anything unless something is stolen,” the young man said, asking not be identified. “We would be the ones getting caught because I’m sure we were the only ones, sexual orientation wise, being caught like that.”

The boy said public displays of affection are a relatively common occurrence at Alice HS, and he believes that the principal would not have targeted him had he been caught kissing a female student.

“In this school [kissing] is everywhere, if that were the case, suspending everyone for that, half the school would be suspended,” he said.

The student’s family says it was told the principal’s decision to suspend him for two days and kick him off the cheerleading squad is under review. If the student isn’t reinstated to the cheerleading squad, the family plans further action. According to the school’s website, Principal Lucy Munoz can be reached at 361-664-0126. District Superintendent Salvador Cavazos can be reached at drscavazos@aliceisd.net.

Watch the video report below.

18 Comments

CMD on October 14, 2011 at 9:34 am

Thanks for the post. if he is not reinstated, i hope I’m able to contribute to any lawsuit

AJ on October 14, 2011 at 10:17 am

This is absolutely the kind off discrimination we NEED TO BE FIGHTING AGAINST! I also would be willing to contribute to any lawsuit against this school if changes aren’t made, the student isn’t admitted back to school AND the squad he obviously loved to be a part of.

Landon on October 14, 2011 at 11:15 am

Here are the email addresses to the school and school district administration… I’ve already emailed them my comments and also as CMD noted, I’ve communicated to them my intent to donate to his legal team.

lmunoz1@aliceisd.net,
ddelgado@aliceisd.net,
wruiz@aliceisd.net,
tterrell@aliceisd.net,
drscavazos@aliceisd.net,
mday@aliceisd.net,
jhuerta@aliceisd.net

GreggsTravel on October 14, 2011 at 1:19 pm

Are PDA’s against the student code of conduct at Alice HS? If not, then this is a blantant overreaction by the school’s principal based on her own homophobia!

Stephaniw on October 14, 2011 at 1:20 pm

I say way to go to the kid for not wanting to make it a big deal. He just wants to do what makes him happy without being harassed! I sincerely hope that he is put back on the squad and that he and his family get a sincere written apology.

Mikal on October 14, 2011 at 4:50 pm

Absurd..There is nothing wrong with a male publicly showing his affection for another male. Girls do it to each other all the time without repercussions.

Andrea on October 14, 2011 at 9:47 pm

This is absolutely ridiculous. If this had been a straight couple and a teacher saw it, nothing would have happened. I say this from experience. However, to go through video footage to catch a gay student engaging in a simple kiss and then suspend them and kick them off of the cheerleading squad? Insane and clearly discriminatory. If this had been the quarterback kissing a girl, not an eyebrow would have been raised, let alone punishing him for such an action. This case was clearly discriminatory. The proof definitely lies with the principal (PDA policy or not) to prove that this policy is being properly applied to everyone and not applied here because the student is gay. Furthermore, I’d like to see the ‘consequences’ outlined for breaking such a rule and actual statistics of students suspended for sharing kisses in recent years. There are plenty of common people as well as organizations who will back this youth. Shame on the principal!

James on October 14, 2011 at 10:16 pm

How pathetic! The school should be ashamed….and good going boys! When will people get it ….there are Gay PEOPLE…and we all start out as gay kids….God made us who we are, and he makes NO mistakes…..

BDUB77 on October 15, 2011 at 1:46 am

even if PDA’s are againt the schools CofC, the student makes a valid – and in my opinion, completely accurate point – straight couples have probably been caught on video kissing…probably more, and nothing was ever said – so, if they can’t hold up their own CofC with EACH & EVERY student – then why now, all of a sudden is it an issue? I assume that he is out – or at least known to be gay, and someone at the school, has an issue with it, and they got the bright idea of using the CofC to make an example out of him…to bad they’re morons and thought this would work. DV please keep us posted – I’d like to see what becomes of this story.

laurel on October 15, 2011 at 10:06 am

I too am Shocked at this Schools actions !

I have Emailed all school board members and will also contribute to any legal fund if necessary.
RE INSTATE THIS YOUNG MAN TO THE SQUAD !

Alfred Lippe on October 16, 2011 at 10:30 am

Two of the girls on that cheerleading squad have become pregnant out of wedlock, and they fire a boy for kissing another boy?? Either one standard for all or the school gets its nose out of thir private lives. Here’s an idea: schools should concentrate on teaching.

Californian Man on October 16, 2011 at 5:53 pm

I think this is absured as well (and this coming from a straight man).
But I did talk to a few people I went to high school with (they were cheerleaders) and they brought up a question: Was this young man in his “cheer uniform”? My friends have all said that they (my friends) had to sign “contracts” with the school/cheer-squad that prohibited them from “expressing any form of affection while in uniform”…even holding hands or having people carry their books would’ve immediately led to their being dismissed from the squad. We’ve all felt that being suspended was extreme, and the way how the school “caught” him is highly suspicious. Either way, I wish that young man good luck both in life and with school (including this whole cheerleading fiasco)

Californian Man on October 16, 2011 at 5:57 pm

P.S. If that school doesn’t recind (rescind? spelling?) the suspension and reinstate this young man to the cheer squad (ESPECIALLY if he was NOT in his cheer-uniform), he and his family should move to either California or Massachusetts…or really, outside the closed-/small-minded “bible belt”

BDUB77 on October 17, 2011 at 3:42 am

@California Man – that is actually a very good question, and made me remember back to my HS days. And it reminded me that all of our sports teams / organized groups had to sign pledges, and those were on top of the schools code of conduct. so that very well could be the case, however, the way they caught him is still called into question

John S. Shore on October 17, 2011 at 12:53 pm

Now I understand he has been kicked off of the team. This is ridiculous.

Indiana mom on October 17, 2011 at 1:07 pm

LOL Thanks for adding the principals phone number and email address, that was great! I’m sure the schools secretary is just loving all the calls on this one. BTW they are not interested in our comments on the matter and then she hung up on me. I hope you lawyers do help this kid get his spot back on the squad. Good luck in life young man 🙂

James Simmons on October 17, 2011 at 2:17 pm

Lucinda M. Munoz, 1200 Bruce St., Alice TX 78332. Home phone 361 664 1841

Lil' Carl on October 17, 2011 at 3:31 pm

Growing up in East Texas we were required to have opposite sex dates to all school functions and PDAs were against school policy, but were never enforced with opposite sex couples. Was nothing to see full on makeout sessions on campus at Liberty Eylau in the 90’s. If there was even a hint you were gay you’d have to look over your shoulder…even with the faculty.

CMD on October 14, 2011 at 9:34 am

Thanks for the post. if he is not reinstated, i hope I’m able to contribute to any lawsuit
AJ on October 14, 2011 at 10:17 am

This is absolutely the kind off discrimination we NEED TO BE FIGHTING AGAINST! I also would be willing to contribute to any lawsuit against this school if changes aren’t made, the student isn’t admitted back to school AND the squad he obviously loved to be a part of.
Landon on October 14, 2011 at 11:15 am

Here are the email addresses to the school and school district administration… I’ve already emailed them my comments and also as CMD noted, I’ve communicated to them my intent to donate to his legal team.

lmunoz1@aliceisd.net,
ddelgado@aliceisd.net,
wruiz@aliceisd.net,
tterrell@aliceisd.net,
drscavazos@aliceisd.net,
mday@aliceisd.net,
jhuerta@aliceisd.net
GreggsTravel on October 14, 2011 at 1:19 pm

Are PDA’s against the student code of conduct at Alice HS? If not, then this is a blantant overreaction by the school’s principal based on her own homophobia!
Stephaniw on October 14, 2011 at 1:20 pm

I say way to go to the kid for not wanting to make it a big deal. He just wants to do what makes him happy without being harassed! I sincerely hope that he is put back on the squad and that he and his family get a sincere written apology.
Mikal on October 14, 2011 at 4:50 pm

Absurd..There is nothing wrong with a male publicly showing his affection for another male. Girls do it to each other all the time without repercussions.
Andrea on October 14, 2011 at 9:47 pm

This is absolutely ridiculous. If this had been a straight couple and a teacher saw it, nothing would have happened. I say this from experience. However, to go through video footage to catch a gay student engaging in a simple kiss and then suspend them and kick them off of the cheerleading squad? Insane and clearly discriminatory. If this had been the quarterback kissing a girl, not an eyebrow would have been raised, let alone punishing him for such an action. This case was clearly discriminatory. The proof definitely lies with the principal (PDA policy or not) to prove that this policy is being properly applied to everyone and not applied here because the student is gay. Furthermore, I’d like to see the ‘consequences’ outlined for breaking such a rule and actual statistics of students suspended for sharing kisses in recent years. There are plenty of common people as well as organizations who will back this youth. Shame on the principal!
James on October 14, 2011 at 10:16 pm

How pathetic! The school should be ashamed….and good going boys! When will people get it ….there are Gay PEOPLE…and we all start out as gay kids….God made us who we are, and he makes NO mistakes…..
BDUB77 on October 15, 2011 at 1:46 am

even if PDA’s are againt the schools CofC, the student makes a valid – and in my opinion, completely accurate point – straight couples have probably been caught on video kissing…probably more, and nothing was ever said – so, if they can’t hold up their own CofC with EACH & EVERY student – then why now, all of a sudden is it an issue? I assume that he is out – or at least known to be gay, and someone at the school, has an issue with it, and they got the bright idea of using the CofC to make an example out of him…to bad they’re morons and thought this would work. DV please keep us posted – I’d like to see what becomes of this story.
laurel on October 15, 2011 at 10:06 am

I too am Shocked at this Schools actions !

I have Emailed all school board members and will also contribute to any legal fund if necessary.
RE INSTATE THIS YOUNG MAN TO THE SQUAD !
Alfred Lippe on October 16, 2011 at 10:30 am

Two of the girls on that cheerleading squad have become pregnant out of wedlock, and they fire a boy for kissing another boy?? Either one standard for all or the school gets its nose out of thir private lives. Here’s an idea: schools should concentrate on teaching.
Californian Man on October 16, 2011 at 5:53 pm

I think this is absured as well (and this coming from a straight man).
But I did talk to a few people I went to high school with (they were cheerleaders) and they brought up a question: Was this young man in his “cheer uniform”? My friends have all said that they (my friends) had to sign “contracts” with the school/cheer-squad that prohibited them from “expressing any form of affection while in uniform”…even holding hands or having people carry their books would’ve immediately led to their being dismissed from the squad. We’ve all felt that being suspended was extreme, and the way how the school “caught” him is highly suspicious. Either way, I wish that young man good luck both in life and with school (including this whole cheerleading fiasco)
Californian Man on October 16, 2011 at 5:57 pm

P.S. If that school doesn’t recind (rescind? spelling?) the suspension and reinstate this young man to the cheer squad (ESPECIALLY if he was NOT in his cheer-uniform), he and his family should move to either California or Massachusetts…or really, outside the closed-/small-minded “bible belt”
BDUB77 on October 17, 2011 at 3:42 am

@California Man – that is actually a very good question, and made me remember back to my HS days. And it reminded me that all of our sports teams / organized groups had to sign pledges, and those were on top of the schools code of conduct. so that very well could be the case, however, the way they caught him is still called into question
John S. Shore on October 17, 2011 at 12:53 pm

Now I understand he has been kicked off of the team. This is ridiculous.
Indiana mom on October 17, 2011 at 1:07 pm

LOL Thanks for adding the principals phone number and email address, that was great! I’m sure the schools secretary is just loving all the calls on this one. BTW they are not interested in our comments on the matter and then she hung up on me. I hope you lawyers do help this kid get his spot back on the squad. Good luck in life young man 🙂
James Simmons on October 17, 2011 at 2:17 pm

Lucinda M. Munoz, 1200 Bruce St., Alice TX 78332. Home phone 361 664 1841
Lil' Carl on October 17, 2011 at 3:31 pm

Growing up in East Texas we were required to have opposite sex dates to all school functions and PDAs were against school policy, but were never enforced with opposite sex couples. Was nothing to see full on makeout sessions on campus at Liberty Eylau in the 90’s. If there was even a hint you were gay you’d have to look over your shoulder…even with the faculty.