Atascocita High yearbooks cause parents outrage

A photo of the LGBT-themed section in this year's Atascocita High School yearbook. The page has garnered support and criticism on social media. SLIDESHOW: Most and least LGBT friendly cities in the United States A photo of the LGBT-themed section in this year's Atascocita High School yearbook. The page has garnered support and criticism on social media. SLIDESHOW: Most and least LGBT friendly cities in the United States Photo: Kyle Armour Photo: Kyle Armour Image 1 of / 39 Caption Close Atascocita High yearbooks cause parents outrage 1 / 39 Back to Gallery

May 19 was an exciting day for many Atascocita High School students. For some, they were eager to receive their yearbooks highlighting all they've accomplished that year. For others, the yearbook stood as their final memories of high school.

But the feeling of excitement quickly deflated as their parents became outraged at Editor-in-Chief Kyle Armour's decision to create an LGBT spread.

LGBTQ IN TEXAS: Two hundred faith leaders, opposing bathroom bill, urge equal treatment for gay, transgender Texans

Much of the drama unfolded on the forum Atascocita.com, where parents expressed their distaste that the LGBT spread included in the yearbook and aimed negative remarks at Kyle. This is the first time Atascocita High has published an LGBT spread in its yearbook.

Kimberly Hicks Armour said her son wanted to highlight the diversity of the school to make each student feel welcomed and accepted.

"His goal was to be as inclusive as possible for the entire student and to make everyone feel important in the book," Kimberly Hicks Armour said.

She said some people posting on the thread were attacking her son directly.

"People were saying he was dumb, not smart, that I should not be proud of who he is. I'm very proud of who he is. He did take a stand and make something diverse for the community and to our school," Kimberly Hicks Armour said.

NOT SO FRIENDLY: Laredo ranks as one of the least LGBT friendly cities in Texas

Senior Natalie Mendoza identifies as gay and Catholic and was amongst the students given a spot on the LGBT spread. Her senior quote, "I can turn your girl," was noted as offensive. Mendoza said her quote was a joke, but it received negative remarks focused on her sexual orientation from parents.

Under the name 'SteelerNation' on Atascocita.com, one user wrote about the spread, "That's jamming their crap down our throats!"

Another user posted under the name 'lynnsgirl', "We can't pray in school but now we have a section strictly dedicated to the gay community explaining how, when and why the came 'out'. I'm honestly disgusted and embarrassed."

Mendoza said reading comments like that made her feel ashamed of who she is, not knowing her quote and the spread would cause all this uproar.

"My friends know my sexual orientation and love and respect me regardless," Mendoza said. "There was many immature and ridiculous jokes, but mine, in specific, stood out due to my sexual orientation."

LGBTQ IN COLLEGE: First openly gay Texas A&M student president hopes to improve diversity

Mendoza said another student wrote "Viva Mexico" and was also targeted for his quote.

The same user name 'SteelerNation' wrote in response to that quote, "hope they self-deport, that crap does not belong in a USA yearbook."

Several students took to Twitter to express their frustration with the forum, stating the parents should stop acting like high school students and let their children express themselves.

Yearbook advisor Kevin Tatum did not have permission to speak to the media.

Jamie Mount, Humble Independent School District spokeswoman, said the district will take the necessary steps to ensure quotes deemed inappropriate are not published in the future, but has not detailed what steps will be put in place or the threshold as to what will be deemed inappropriate.

For a brief period, the district halted distribution of yearbooks and ordered yearbook staff to mark over the offensive quotes with a Sharpie. That decision was later reversed and the school Tweeted it would release the yearbooks in their original form.

"The yearbooks should have been more thoroughly vetted prior to publication," Mount said. "The issue has been addressed with staff. It will not happen again."

Also, amongst that turmoil, some senior quotes published in the yearbooks caused some parents to call for legal action or censure.

Student Matthew Rinn posted a photo of a Sharpie marking through a senior quote stating, "'I start the Lamborghini with a screwdriver.' - Riff Raff."

"So happy to be apart of a journalism program that serves the parents of Atascocita, not the students! Our innocent little minds!" Rinn captioned the photo.

Another senior quote included an arrow to the left and the words "dis man is ugly," pointing to Darlene Savoie Seal's son.

"The yearbook has already been published and released. Other people (have) seen the quote, took pictures with their phone and passed it around on Snapchat," Seal said.

She contacted her lawyer and the school.

"The school, after I contacted my lawyer, has given my son an apology and (is) saying they are taking steps so this does not happen again," Seal said.