Lesbian high schooler claims her diploma was ‘withheld’ after coming out

A lesbian teen is suing her high school because she alleges she was suspended and denied her diploma after coming out as gay on social media.

Morgan Armstrong – a senior at Tennessee Christian Preparatory School in Cleveland, 30 miles northeast of Chattanooga – came out as a lesbian in April in a post on social media platform Facebook.

The post was included a number of pictures of Armstrong with her girlfriend alongside the caption: “cats outta the bag ”.

Prior to sharing the post, Armstrong privately messaged some friends asking for them to like and comment supportive things because she “some ruthless Trump supporting ‘jesus’ mfs on there”.

“It was nerve-wracking because I knew everyone would have different opinions, some would like it, some would hate it,” she said of coming out to WSMV.

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A student at a Tennessee Christian high school claims her diploma is being withheld after she came out. Now she is suing the school. Morgan Armstrong posted these pictures to Facebook of her and her girlfriend on April 24, captioned ‘cats outta the bag’. “It was nervewracking to post it because I knew everyone was gonna have different opinions, some would love it, some would hate it”. Days later, Morgan and her father were called into Tennessee Christian Preparatory School. “I figured it was the social media post that I posted with my girlfriend”. Instead, Morgan was allegedly given a suspension letter, which cited a private message that Morgan had sent to friends before uploading the coming out post, asking them for support. The private message read ‘go like and comment on my post, I have some ruthless Trump supporting “jesus” m*s on there’. The letter read ‘Morgan posted on social media platforms such as instagram, a disparaging remark reflecting the people at Tennessee Christian. The comment reflected on the institution, faculty, staff, alumni and students in the most negative possible way.’ As a result, the school allegedly informed Morgan that she would ‘not be allowed on campus or at any school events, including graduation’. She will ‘receive her diploma through mail on June 15, 2025.’ And instructed that Morgan ‘will not comment about the school or people associated with the school’ and if the ‘slander continues, records of posts and messages will be forwarded to colleges and universities’ also threatening to ‘withhold Morgan’s diploma’ if she doesn’t adhere to these terms. Morgan is now suing the school, claiming she was suspended for coming out as gay. “Morgan did not write anything about the school at any time, she didn’t post anything about the school and her private message was not about the school”. Morgan’s mom has spoken out, expressing her anger at the situation. “I was shocked, and then I went to anger”. “I’m not really sure how they can legally threaten to withhold it, because she speaks her truth”. On the day Morgan was supposed to graduate, she and her family held a small protest. The lawsuit which Morgan is bringing against the school also claims that she was ‘not permitted to take her final exams’. The lawsuit also references the schools own student/parent handbook, which outlines that the maximum punishment for a first time Social Media Policy violation is a ‘1-day in school suspension’. However, the lawsuit states that ‘in its haste to suspend Morgan for being gay’ the school ‘violated its own Disciplinary Policy’ and imposed a ‘Long-term suspension instead’ The lawsuit seeks to allow Morgan to take her finals, forbid the school from withholding her diploma and prevent them from contacting Colleges and Universities. The school has since issued their own statement, writing: ‘Tennessee Christian Preparatory School firmly rejects the misleading allegations outlined in a recent lawsuit supposedly filed against the school. Despite this supposed legal dispute, Tennessee Christian remains fully committed to delivering Morgan Armstrong’s diploma.’ #lgbtqia #school #graduation #diploma #comingout #tenessee

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Following this, Armstrong’s parents got a message from the school requesting a meeting where they were then informed she had posted a “disparaging remark” about the school and its community.

“The vulgar and disrespectful comment produced the wrong perception of who Tennessee Christian is and what we represent, Christ. The comment reflected on the institution, faculty, staff, alumni and students in the most negative possible way,” the letter handed to Armstrong and her parents by principal Kylie Machacek and head of schools Jared Tilley read.

The letter went on to say that the senior would henceforth be banned from campus, school events and her graduation ceremony.

The school then went on to issue further demands of Armstrong, alongside threats: “Morgan will not comment about the school or people associated with the school. If online slander continues, records of posts and messages will be forwarded to colleges and universities as part of a comprehensive student file.

“If the above are not adhered to, Morgan Armstrong’s diploma will be withheld and not mailed on June 15, 2025.”

According to the school’s own disciplinary policies, if a pupil commits a first-time social media violation they would normally receive a one-day school suspension – not being suspended and having their diploma withheld.

In response, Armstrong and her family are taking legal action against the school.

Her attorney, Daniel Horwitz, told the news outlet she “did not write anything about the school at any time”

“She didn’t post anything about the school, and the private message was not about the school,” Horwitz added.

As per the lawsuit, the reference in Armstrong’s message to “ruthless Trump supporting ‘jesus’ mfs” was not related to he school but instead relatives in her own family.

On the day she was meant to graduate, which she was prevented from doing so, Armstrong and her family held a protest near the school grounds.

Armstrong and her family held lesbian flags, placards and signs.

In a statement provided to WRCB-TV by Tilly, the school rejects the claims made in Armstrong’s lawsuit.

“Tennessee Christian Preparatory School firmly rejects the misleading allegations outlined in a recent lawsuit supposedly filed against the school. As of 11:00 AM on May 22, we have yet to be served with process for the alleged lawsuit,” the statement read.

“The administration and Board of Trustees express deep disappointment over the inaccuracies contained in the alleged filing by Daniel A. Horwitz with Horwitz Law in Nashville. Despite this supposed legal dispute, Tennessee Christian remains fully committed to delivering Morgan Armstrong’s diploma.

“Our goal continues to be the academic and personal success of each student, even in the face of conflict or disagreement.

“We wish Morgan Armstrong the very best as she continues her academics in college.”

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