Henkle V. Gregory

Several male students approached the Plaintiff while on Galena High School grounds and began barraging him with anti-gay epithets. One of the students suggested that the group tie the Plaintiff to the back of a truck and drag him down a nearby road. The students pursued the Plaintiff and succeeded in lassoing him around the neck with a rope. The Plaintiff was able to escape to a classroom and immediately used an internal phone to call the Principals office. The Plaintiff waited almost two hours before anyone came to the classroom where he hid in fear. When the Defendant, Assistant Vice Principal Hausauer arrived she responded to the Plaintiff recounting of the incident with laughter. Defendant, Principal Gregory, was also made aware of the incident and instead of conducting an immediate investigation and punishing the harassers, both the Principal and Assistant Vice Principal took no action against the alleged harassers despite knowing their identities. .
             The Plaintiff attended Washoe High School from January 1996 through May of 1996. Throughout this time Principal Floyd repeatedly told the Plaintiff not to discuss his sexual orientation with others. During one meeting Principal Floyd told the Plaintiff to stop acting like a "fag". .
             Frustrated by the lack of educational opportunity at Washoe, the Plaintiff requested a transfer to a traditional high school that would provide him with an education suited to his intellectual abilities. The Defendant, Joe Anastasio, Director of Student Services; told him that this was not possible because the Plaintiff was openly gay and that a traditional high school therefore would not be appropriate for him. Eventually, he was transferred to Wooster High School. The Director of Student Services again, told the Plaintiff not to disclose his sexual orientation to others at Wooster. .
             While at Wooster High School, the Plaintiff did not discuss his sexual orientation or express his pro-gay viewpoints.