PARKLAND, Fla. – Timothy “Chaz” Stevens, a free speech activist, said he found an opportunity in Broward County.
Stevens, an entrepreneur, said he is passionate about defending the separation of church and state.
When he saw churches placing banners at Broward County Public Schools, he decided it was time to buy space for a “Church of Satanology” banner.
“I thought what better way than putting it back in their face than to remind them that viewpoint discrimination shouldn’t be a problem,” Stevens said.
When the public schools’ officials rejected his offer to buy banner space, Stevens filed a federal lawsuit.
“I’m an atheist. I don’t believe in any of that stuff,” Stevens said about “Satanology.” He added, “It’s about trans kids and LGBT kids and kids of color.”
The attorneys representing the school board filed a motion to dismiss the case, but a federal judge ruled the case will be heading to trial.
Caroline Mala Corbin, a professor at the University of Miami School of Law who is not involved in the case, said Stevens has a First Amendment case.
“The school doesn’t have to, but if it does open its property to private speakers, it can’t then say, ‘We’re going to exclude you because we don’t like your viewpoint.' It’s meant to protect the free flow of information so that people are exposed to all different kinds of ideas and viewpoints.”
The school district released a statement saying officials do not comment on pending litigation. A judge had set the trial to start in March, but it was later postponed to April.