An Ohio teenager who posted Bible verses around her high school in response to gay pride flags received a notice of an in-school suspension (ISS) Friday. 

In a video her mom posted on Facebook, Gabby Helsinger says that when she arrived at school last Thursday she saw pride flags and posters in the hallways. She felt that she should write down scripture verses to post on lockers and the walls. 

‘God is the Only Way’

They didn’t last long. “I was coming back from lunch … and I [saw] the teachers taking them down. The next day, I got called to the office and there is a letter that says that I have an ISS, which is an in-school suspension, and the reason why I have it is because ‘abuse of others, disrespect, rudeness’ because I put Bible verses up ‘targeting the GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance) organization.’ I did not know what the GSA organization was or meant.”

Gabby explained that she posted the Bible verses to help others. “Seeing that there [were] people in my school that needed help. They don’t need to be living in the confusion of wondering if they should be gay, bi, lesbian, trans — anything like that. And I know that God is the only way that they can be healed by that, and that’s why I did it. I was not targeting any kind of organization.”

‘I Wanted to Spread the Word of God’

When she was called into the principal’s office, he asked her why she did it.

“And I said, ‘Because I wanted to spread the word of God,’” she said. “And [the principal] goes, ‘Well did you have permission?’ And I said, ‘No.’ I didn’t know you had to have permission because people do it a lot — putting Post-It notes on people’s lockers, so I just did it.”

Gabby asked the principal why people can’t post about God or Jesus, but they can post about gay pride. Gabby also noted that during morning announcements the school advertised the GSA, but God or Christianity was never allowed on the announcements. She did not say whether he responded to her questions.

Gabby’s mom, Tina Helsinger, posted the video and commented that her daughter’s high school “celebrates evil and punishes righteousness.”  

“I appealed the punishment stating ‘Posting a Bible verse is not abuse of others, disrespect/insolence/rudeness and in no way was it targeting GSA’ but the school principal, Scott Butler, says ‘Gabby was targeting the GSA organization’ and therefore must report to ISS Wednesday 3/13/19.”

Pray for Gabby that she remains strong in her faith as she is punished for sharing God’s Word.

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