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She's a True Patriot
17-year-old Keaty Gross has been an ACLU supporter for most of her life. Her parents were both “card-carrying” members before Keaty was even born. Her mother is so dedicated to civil liberties that she once threw a birthday party for the 200th anniversary of the Bill of Rights.
So it's no surprise that Keaty devotes most of her free time to advocacy and helping others. At her high school, Keaty was an active member of the Gay/Straight Alliance and advocated for marriage rights for same-sex couples. Outside of school, she was an STD and pregnancy counselor for Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains. Keaty even managed to find time to volunteer at a rehabilitation center for wild birds.
But Keaty's passion for civil liberties and advocacy took on a very public face when she stepped forward as one of nine plaintiffs in an ACLU lawsuit contesting a Colorado state law requiring public school students and teachers to recite the Pledge of Allegiance on a daily basis.
"I am a patriotic person, but I believe that part of our freedom in the United States is to express our support of our country in different ways,” said Keaty. “There should not be only one way to express your patriotism.”
After a federal judge sided with Keaty and the ACLU, the law was rewritten to give students and teachers personal discretion over whether or not to recite the pledge.
“I'm extremely happy with the outcome,” said Keaty. “The decision resolves the issues that led me to participate in the case.”
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