Gay Now "Bad Wurd" Subject to School Punishment

Huff said her son has known about her lesbian relationships for several years. "I tell him that he's just like any other kid except that he has two moms. Some children are adopted, some are raised by grandparents. A family are people who love each other."

It was just such a matter-of-fact attitude that got Marcus in trouble. As he was standing in line for morning recess, his classmate asked him about his mother and father. He replied that he didn't have a mother and father; he had two mothers. When the other child asked why he had two moms, he said his mother was gay and when the questioner persisted and asked what that meant, he responded, "Gay is when a girl likes another girl."

Bethea, his teacher, heard the exchange and scolded him in front of his classmates, according to the ACLU, then sent him to the principal's office in place of recess. In her report to school officials, Bethea wrote: "This kind of discussion is not acceptable in my room. I feel that parents should explain things of this nature to their own children in their own way."

Marcus got her message. On his behavior contract, he was asked what he did.

"I sed bad wurds," he wrote.

When asked what he should have done, he replied, "cep my mouf shut."