I previously posted about East Bakersfield High School’s Principal, John L. Gibson, refusing to allow a series of articles on gay issues to be printed in East Bakersfield High School’s school newspaper, The Kernal, here when five students and their parents filed a lawsuit seeking publication.

Student Press Law Center reports the articles were printed on Friday and students will continue with the lawsuit seeking publication of the series hoping for a precedent in the legal system.

The spread included interviews with openly gay students on campus about how they are treated, an in-depth interview with a gay student and her mother and interviews with a student and a local pastor who feel homosexuality is wrong. The spread also included research that has been done about homosexuality and a story that listed statistics on homosexuality in America and violence against gays.

Randy Hamm, The Kernal’s adviser, said in May that permission slips were obtained from the parents of all the students interviewed for the articles.

After the articles were censored last spring the students sued the school district with the help of the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California seeking a temporary restraining order forcing Gibson to allow publication.

Kern County Superior Court Judge Arthur Wallace did not grant the order, saying in May more facts and a full hearing were needed before a decision could be made, according to an attorney representing the students.

Krauter said that even though the articles have now been printed the students will continue with the lawsuit, hoping for a hearing in the near future.

“It won’t be a victory for student journalists everywhere until we have a precedent in the legal system,” she said.

It is important for student newspapers to be able to cover issues that are relevant to their schools, Krauter said, adding, “high school students shouldn’t be sheltered from things that they’re already dealing with.”