As a result of Liberty Counsel’s demand letter, the Arts and Entertainment Virtual Academy (AEVA) in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) is now providing equal treatment to a student-led Bible club. 

Before the letter, the student-led “Faith and Fellowship Club” had been denied by school leadership the opportunity to advertise the club with a commercial and promotional slide via the school’s weekly webinar where other student clubs were advertised. While the Christian “Faith and Fellowship Club” was denied, AEVA’s weekly webinar promoted an advertisement urging students to celebrate the Islamic holiday Ramadan. In addition, while the school’s promotional PowerPoint slide featured numerous non-curricular clubs, such as “Fashion Club,” “Anime Club,” “Singing Club,” and more, the faith-based club had been excluded.

“The exclusion of a slide announcing a Christian club…while Ramadan is promoted to students is suggestive of viewpoint discrimination,” Liberty Counsel’s letter stated.

In LAUSD’s response, district officials stated the Christian club will be treated equally as other clubs.

“The Faith and Fellowship Club, as the first student-led club at this school, will continue to meet, share information, and operate consistent with general rules for student-led clubs,” reads LAUSD’s response letter. “The principal has agreed to allow the Faith and Fellowship Club’s proposed message to be included in Monday's Weekly Webinar.”

As a result of the recently allowed promotional placements, Faith and Fellowship Club’s student leader reported that student participation doubled at the very next meeting.

Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver said, “We commend the Los Angeles Unified School District for ensuring equal access for the Faith and Fellowship Club at the Arts and Entertainment Virtual Academy. The First Amendment and the Equal Access Act do not allow for excluding a Christian club in a forum where other non-curricular programs and other viewpoints are permitted.”