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'Queer Eye For Hunt High' Loses Election

Campaign Poster Prompted Controversy

POSTED: 1:43 p.m. EDT April 29, 2004
UPDATED: 3:47 p.m. EDT April 30, 2004

It turned out that, contrary to what his campaign poster said, Jarred Gamwell wasn't the "Queer Eye for Hunt High."

The openly gay teen came in last in the race to be student body president at the North Carolina school.

His campaign drew national attention after school officials removed two of his posters from school walls.

A judge later denied The American Civil Liberties Union's request to let Gamwell hang the posters.

The openly gay junior said he decided to include his sexual orientation on campaign posters to show he was for equality, opportunity and fairness.

He put up campaign signs with phrases like "A Queer Eye for Hunt High" and "Gay Guys Know Everything."

Shortly after the posters went up, Hunt High School principal Bill Williamson ordered staff to take them down.

He determined the language on Gamwell's posters was disruptive and had nothing to do with his qualifications.

Gamwell said if that was the case, other campaign posters should have been pulled.

Gamwell pointed to a student whose last name is Miller, who used the slogan, "It's Miller time."

Gamwell said that poster was allowed to stay up.

"That's strictly alcoholic," he said. "You can't put that at school."

Said Will Winslow, chairman of the school board: "The one thing, I think, that would have come into play is if the one that said "Miller Time," which is more now almost a generic phrase, if it had portrayed folks drinking or shown Miller Beer, that poster would have been down mighty quick."

Winslow said he is disappointed the system got national attention over the issue.

He does not think the schools treat gays or any group unfairly.

"I don't anticipate, right now, having to worry about this decision any further," he said.

Gamwell said he plans to start a gay-straight alliance club at Hunt High School next year.

The ACLU is waiting to decide whether or not to take further action against the school.

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