schools
Christian school pays $10K to student suspended for coming out as gay
By Finya Swai and The Hill at KTSM 9 News (NBC)
· June 25, 2026
· 1 min read
A Tennessee Christian school agreed to pay a former student $10,000 to settle a legal battle after she sued the school for barring her from graduation and suspending her after she came out as gay on social media.
Why this matters in The El Paso
The settlement of a Tennessee Christian school to pay a former student $10,000 for suspending her after she came out as gay on social media raises questions about the treatment of LGBTQ+ students in El Paso 's own schools. While the incident occurred outside of El Paso, it connects to local conversations about inclusivity and support for students of all backgrounds. El Paso's school district has implemented policies aimed at creating a welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ students, but incidents like the one in Tennessee serve as a reminder that more work may be needed to ensure all students feel supported. The city's schools will likely continue to grapple with balancing the needs of students from diverse backgrounds with the values of private institutions, including Christian schools, that operate within the community. As El Paso's student population grows and diversifies, the community will be watching to see how local schools address the needs of LGBTQ+ students.
About this story
Original reporting by KTSM 9 News (NBC) . The El Paso surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KTSM 9 News (NBC) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: schools ·
Published: June 25, 2026 ·
Source: KTSM 9 News (NBC) ·
Reading time: 1 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? A Tennessee Christian school agreed to pay a former student $10,000 to settle a legal battle after she sued the school for barring her from graduation and suspending her after she came out as gay on social media.
When was this published? This article was first published on June 25, 2026 by KTSM 9 News (NBC) and curated for The El Paso readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Finya Swai and The Hill at KTSM 9 News (NBC). To learn more about how The El Paso selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more schools coverage from The El Paso, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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