Colombia Orders Evangelical School to Apologize to Expelled Gay Teen
ColombiaOne.comColombia newsColombia Orders Evangelical School to Apologize to Expelled Gay Teen Colombia Orders Evangelical School to Apologize to Expelled Gay Teen By Luis Felipe Mendoza-
August 4, 2025 Colombia’s Constitutional Court ruled in favor of a gay teen expelled from an evangelical school, ordering the institution to apologize Credit: A.P. / ColombiaOne.Colombia’s Constitutional Court ruled in favor of a gay teen expelled from an evangelical school, ordering the institution to apologize and implement sweeping anti-discrimination reforms. The ruling is being hailed as a major step forward for LGBTQ+ rights in a country where tensions between religious conservatism and individual freedoms remain strong.
The student, identified only by the pseudonym Rubén, filed the case after being expelled from school in 2024 for defending LGBTQ+ classmates and later acknowledging his own sexuality. The school’s appeal of an earlier ruling was dismissed in July, making the court’s decision final.
The Colombian gay teen student was expelled after speaking out
Rubén’s expulsion followed a confrontation with school staff in which he defended two female classmates who were reprimanded for dating. During the exchange, the teacher accused him of supporting behavior that was “an abomination to God” and insinuated he was gay. Rubén, impulsively, stated that he saw no problem with homosexuality–a moment he later described as being “forced out of the closet.”
Following the incident, the school expelled him, prompting Rubén to take legal action. His case was backed by the NGOs Jacarandas and Colombia Diversa, as well as his older sister, who persuaded their evangelical parents to support him.
The court ruled in favor of student rights
In a December 2024 decision, the Constitutional Court sided with Rubén, stating that the institution had violated his fundamental rights. The ruling ordered a public apology from the school to Rubén, His reintegration, along with access to remedial courses to make up for lost academic time. Additionally, comprehensive anti-discrimination measures require the school to ensure LGBTQ+ students are protected and respected.
The court also sent Rubén a personal letter commending his “strong commitment to justice and admirable maturity.” The school argued its actions were protected under religious freedom, claiming it did not know Rubén was gay and that previous disciplinary actions were not motivated by bias. However, the court rejected those claims, emphasizing that religious institutions operating in the education system must comply with human rights standards.
“While parents can choose a religious education for their children, that right must be harmonized with the obligation to provide inclusive, science-based sex education,” the ruling stated. The court also ordered the Sogamoso education secretariat, which had originally sided with the school, to issue its own apology to the teen.
The decision is considered a legal milestone for Colombia’s LGBT rights
Rubén, now back at the same school, says he feels supported by his classmates, even if the staff’s behavior has only improved “out of obligation.” He plans to transfer to a different school next year, not because of discrimination, but to pursue his dream of becoming an athlete. “The Bible says that God is love,” he told local media. “He never criticized people for who they are.”
Despite ongoing challenges, Rubén’s case sets a precedent in Colombia’s evolving conversation about religious education, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and the limits of institutional authority.
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