By Jeffrey P. Haney: Deseret News staff writer
After a ruling by a federal judge that the Nebo School District
violated teacher Wendy Weaver's constitutional rights, a poll
indicated that residents of Utah County, where the school district
is located, disagree with the decision. 87 percent of the county
is Mormon.
Weaver, with the help of the ACLU, filed suit when the school
district ordered her not to discuss her sexual orientation and
denied her a volleyball coaching job. The school district had
learned of Weaver's "marital-like" relationship with another
woman.
U.S. District Senior Judge Bruce Jenkins ruled in Weaver's
favor on all claims and ordered the school district to remove
references from her personnel file, to offer Weaver the coaching
job and to pay her $1,500 in damages.
In spite of the ruling, the poll found that county residents
disagreed with the ruling 52 percent to 38 percent. 10 percent
were undecided.
Meanwhile, Weaver has been sued by local citizens and the ACLU
is helping in her defense. Nebo school district has decided not
to file an appeal.