Opinion in Gay Students Organization of the University of New Hampshire v. Bonner
1/16/1974
Add all page(s) of this document to activity:
Add only page 1 to activity:
Add only page 2 to activity:
Add only page 3 to activity:
Add only page 4 to activity:
Add only page 5 to activity:
Add only page 6 to activity:
Add only page 7 to activity:
Add only page 8 to activity:
Add only page 9 to activity:
Add only page 10 to activity:
Add only page 11 to activity:
Add only page 12 to activity:
Add only page 13 to activity:
Add only page 14 to activity:
Add only page 15 to activity:
Add only page 16 to activity:
Add only page 17 to activity:
Add only page 18 to activity:
Add only page 19 to activity:
Add only page 20 to activity:
Add only page 21 to activity:
Add only page 22 to activity:
Add only page 23 to activity:
Add only page 24 to activity:
This opinion comes from the court case Gay Students Organization of the University of New Hampshire, et al. vs. Thomas N. Bonner, et al. Filed in 1973, this is one of the earliest cases involving gay and lesbian civil rights. In their complaint, the plaintiffs (the student organization) stated that the defendants (Thomas Bonner was the President of the University of New Hampshire) had denied their constitutional rights, including those secured by the First and Fourteenth Amendments. The university wouldn't allow the Gay Students Organization to hold "social functions."
In this 1974 opinion, the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire sided with the UNH Gay Students Organization, ruling that they could come together for social events, which were considered expressive conduct and association as protected by the First Amendment. The court said that the University could not prohibit or restrict social functions or the use of university facilities by the Gay Students Organization; nor could they treat the group differently than any other student organization.
This primary source comes from the Records of District Courts of the United States.
Full Citation: Opinion; 1/16/1974; Gay Students Organization of the University of New Hampshire, et al. vs. Thomas N. Bonner, et al.; Civil Action Case Files, 1938 - 2002; Records of District Courts of the United States, Record Group 21; National Archives at Boston, Waltham, MA. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/opinion-gay-students-organization-v-bonner, May 5, 2024]