Tennessee school pays student $10k for blocking her from graduation after she came out as gay

A Tennessee private Christian school has paid out $10,000 to a senior who said she was blocked from attending her graduation after coming out as gay online.

Morgan Armstrong received the payout, one year after she filed the lawsuit against officials at the Cleveland institution, WTVC reported Monday.

Armstrong, a “standout” basketball player at Tennessee Christian Preparatory School, said she was suspended just two weeks before her graduation after announcing on Facebook she was in a relationship with Sophie Bryant, court documents seen by The Post revealed.

These claims were vehemently disputed by the school, who claimed she had breached its social media policies, citing a “disparaging” private message she had sent to a select number of her pals.

The then 18-year-old student filed a lawsuit, blasting what she thought was a heavy-handed response, particularly as she hadn’t previously violated the school’s social media policy, and the saga spanned a year before the payout.

“Tennessee Christian and the Armstrong family disagree regarding the extent to which Morgan Armstrong violated school policies,” school officials said in response to the ruling.

“Both parties acknowledge that this disagreement remains unresolved and mutually agreed to move forward. No further comments will be made regarding this matter.”

Armstrong came out as gay in April 2025, boasting the “cat’s out the bag” before messaging her pals to like the post.

“Go and comment on my post. I have some ruthless Trump supporting ‘Jesus’ mfs on there,” Armstrong wrote, fearing her news could cause a family rift.

Then, she was hauled into a meeting with the principal Kylie Machachek and Jared Tilley, the head of schools. 

“Morgan posted on social media platforms, such as Instagram, a disparaging remark, reflecting the people at Tennessee Christian,” school officials said in a letter addressed to the student.

“The comment reflected on the institution, facility, staff, alumni and students in the most negative possible way,” they claimed, even though there was no direct mention of the school.

The letter stated that Armstrong would be barred from attending her graduation ceremony and she was warned that any future “disparaging remarks” would be handed over to any colleges.

Armstrong was then warned her diploma would be withheld if she didn’t comply with the order.

“Nothing in Morgan’s public post was vulgar, disrespectful, or slanderous… Nothing in this private message referenced — or was intended to reference, anyone at Tennessee Christian Preparatory School,” the lawsuit hit back.

Armstrong was hit with the sanction — even though first-time violations usually amount to a one-day school suspension, the lawsuit said.

The school’s approach infuriated her family and left a sour taste in the student’s mouth.

“I was shocked and then I went to anger,” Armstrong’s mom, Monica, said.

Armstrong said her memories of the school “will just be tainted forever” because of the lawsuit — but was unapologetic about the post.

“Everyone else gets to post their boyfriend or girlfriend,” she told the Washington Post.

“So just because I have a girlfriend and I’m a girl, why does that mean that I shouldn’t be able to? I love my girlfriend and I wanted to show it.”

Armstrong didn’t just secure a financial payout – the school is banned from making comments about her to colleges.

The school didn’t respond to The Post’s request for comment.