A Washington Elementary school faces questions over religious freedom after approving an LGBTQ Pride club but rejecting a student’s prayer group proposal

An 11-year-old fifth-grader from Washington State, identified only as Laura, has found herself at the centre of a controversy over religious expression in schools. Laura’s request to establish an interfaith prayer club at Creekside Elementary was denied by school officials, a decision that came just one week after the same school approved the formation of an LGBTQ Pride club.

Laura shared her experience on “Fox News @ Night,” explaining her motivation was to create a space where students of all faiths could gather to pray and engage in community service. “I think that this is something that I am very passionate about. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t really want to make this happen, if I didn’t think that it would be a great opportunity for everyone,” Laura stated.

The denial has prompted legal action from the First Liberty Institute, a nonprofit Christian legal organization, which argues that the school’s decision constitutes religious discrimination. Kayla Toney, Associate Counsel at First Liberty Institute, emphasized that the refusal to allow a religious student club while permitting other clubs violates constitutional principles of free speech and free exercise of religion.

The school principal reportedly informed Laura and her mother that the budget for new clubs had been allocated in October, and no further clubs could be funded at that time. This explanation, however, is contested by First Liberty, particularly as the Pride club was established shortly before Laura’s request.

This issue echoes a broader national conversation about religious expression in public schools, highlighted by the case of Joe Kennedy, a coach from nearby Bremerton High School. Kennedy was initially dismissed for praying on the football field but was reinstated following a Supreme Court decision affirming his First Amendment rights.

The denial of Laura’s club has not only sparked legal scrutiny but has also stirred a significant public response, as community members and observers debate the balance between secular policies and religious freedoms in educational settings.

Creekside Elementary and the Issaquah School District have yet to publicly respond to the controversy or the allegations of discriminatory practices. The case continues to develop as legal experts and civil rights advocates closely monitor the situation, awaiting the district’s official stance.