A Tennessee personal Christian college has paid out $10,000 to a senior who mentioned she was blocked from attending her commencement after popping out as homosexual on-line.
Morgan Armstrong acquired the payout, one yr after she filed the lawsuit in opposition to officers on the Cleveland establishment, WTVC reported Monday.
Armstrong, a “standout” basketball participant at Tennessee Christian Preparatory College, mentioned she was suspended simply two weeks earlier than her commencement after asserting on Fb she was in a relationship with Sophie Bryant, court docket paperwork seen by The Put up revealed.
These claims had been vehemently disputed by the college, who claimed she had breached its social media insurance policies, citing a “disparaging” personal message she had despatched to a choose variety of her buddies.
The then 18-year-old scholar filed a lawsuit, blasting what she thought was a heavy-handed response, significantly as she hadn’t beforehand violated the college’s social media coverage, and the saga spanned a yr earlier than the payout.
“Tennessee Christian and the Armstrong household disagree relating to the extent to which Morgan Armstrong violated college insurance policies,” college officers mentioned in response to the ruling.
“Each events acknowledge that this disagreement stays unresolved and mutually agreed to maneuver ahead. No additional feedback will likely be made relating to this matter.”
Armstrong got here out as homosexual in April 2025, boasting the “cat’s out the bag” earlier than messaging her buddies to love the submit.
“Go and touch upon my submit. I’ve some ruthless Trump supporting ‘Jesus’ mfs on there,” Armstrong wrote, fearing her information might trigger a household rift.
Then, she was hauled into a gathering with the principal Kylie Machachek and Jared Tilley, the top of colleges.
“Morgan posted on social media platforms, reminiscent of Instagram, a disparaging comment, reflecting the folks at Tennessee Christian,” college officers mentioned in a letter addressed to the scholar.
“The remark mirrored on the establishment, facility, workers, alumni and college students in probably the most detrimental doable means,” they claimed, although there was no direct point out of the college.
The letter said that Armstrong could be barred from attending her commencement ceremony and he or she was warned that any future “disparaging remarks” could be handed over to any schools.
Armstrong was then warned her diploma could be withheld if she didn’t adjust to the order.
“Nothing in Morgan’s public submit was vulgar, disrespectful, or slanderous… Nothing on this personal message referenced — or was meant to reference, anybody at Tennessee Christian Preparatory College,” the lawsuit hit again.
Armstrong was hit with the sanction — although first-time violations often quantity to a one-day college suspension, the lawsuit mentioned.
The college’s method infuriated her household and left a bitter style within the scholar’s mouth.
“I used to be shocked after which I went to anger,” Armstrong’s mother, Monica, mentioned.
Armstrong mentioned her reminiscences of the college “will simply be tainted perpetually” due to the lawsuit — however was unapologetic concerning the submit.
“Everybody else will get to submit their boyfriend or girlfriend,” she advised the Washington Put up.
“So simply because I’ve a girlfriend and I’m a woman, why does that imply that I shouldn’t have the ability to? I like my girlfriend and I needed to indicate it.”
Armstrong didn’t simply safe a monetary payout – the college is banned from making feedback about her to high schools.
The college didn’t reply to The Put up’s request for remark.
