ACLU sues Knox, Nashville schools for blocking gay websites

Knox County Schools are facing a lawsuit in federal court over the way their internet is filtered.

The American Civil Liberties Union sued Knox County and Nashville schools for blocking non-pornographic gay-oriented websites but allowing websites that condemn homosexuality and promote programs that aim to alter one's sexuality to heterosexual.

A Fulton High School Librarian who also sponsors the school's Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) is one of the plaintiffs in the case.

"Contacting the ACLU was the absolute last step in the process," said Karyn Brinks.

The process started for her almost two years ago. That's when she discovered the internet filtering system at her school blocked websites that support gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender issues.

The filter allowed anti-gay sites.

Two years later, it still does.

"Regardless of how you stand on an issue, you can't speak intelligently about that issue if you don't know what the opposition has to say," Brinks said.

See ACLU sues Knox, Nashville schools for blocking gay websites WBIR-TV