Christian school settles lawsuit of suspended LGBTQ senior

A Christian school in Tennessee settled a lawsuit with a former student who alleged the school suspended her for announcing a same-sex relationship weeks before graduation in 2025. Tennessee Christian Preparatory School in Cleveland, Tenn., has denied the allegations, citing other problems with Armstrong’s school record. Under the settlement, the school agreed to pay Morgan Armstrong $10,000, according to court records. The school also reportedly will rescind Armstrong’s suspension. A final judgment order was entered in the Chancery Court for Bradley County last week, according to several media outlets.

The school has repeatedly denied suspending Armstrong because of her relationship status and instead told WTVC-TV News Channel 9 that the student violated a variety of school policies. WORLD reached out to the Tennessee Christian Preparatory School on Monday but did not immediately hear back.

How did the case get here? In April 2025, Armstrong posted on social media that she was in a relationship with another woman. She sued the school a month later, alleging administrators had suspended her and barred her from all school events, including the graduation ceremony for her class. Armstrong also claimed the school threatened to withhold her diploma if she posted slander online about the organization, according to her complaint. She accused administrators of being motivated to act against her because she announced a same-sex relationship.

Tennessee Christian Preparatory School denied the allegations and said that Armstrong had violated other school policies. The school said she had troubles with attendance, tardiness, and academics, according to WTVC. She had also violated the school’s social media policies in other posts, the school has said.

In the settlement, both parties reportedly agreed to rescind the suspension, but they did not agree on the extent of her violation of Tennessee Christian Preparatory School’s policies.