 free speech religious beliefs education the thomas more law center has filed a federal lawsuit against the howell public school district and teacher johnson mcdowell for punishment and humiliation toward a student after he expressed his religious belief opposing homosexuality during class the student was specifically asked by mcdowell about his feelings on homosexuals daniel responded that as a catholic he was offended by the gay and lesbian lifestyle because of his answer daniel was ordered to leave the classroom under threat of suspension the question we have to ask ourselves is what is free speech and when does it become considered hate speech even if it is an integral part of a religious belief structure for an article on the lawsuit and the specifics related to the controversy click on the following story link  http wwwthomasmoreorg qry pagetaf id 19 function detail sbtblctuid1 948 nc 4c58d492a2d2954d2e385e76b858acbb 