The right of students of state-supported colleges to form and belong to lesbian and/or gay student organizations is protected by the U.S. Constitution. Lesbian and gay students have a First Amendment right to assemble, to express their views, to discuss current problems, and to advocate changes in the status quo. The First Amendment provides protection only from governmental restrictions on freedom of speech and association, however, so it does not apply to private and parochial schools; they may lawfully restrict the establishment of lesbian and gay student groups.
Schools can require that all student organizations serve some legitimate educational purpose. Lesbian and gay student organizations might educate members of the school community about homosexuality, current laws affecting homosexuals, special problems of homosexual students, and support services available to homosexuals.
The administration may, of course, require the organization to abide by reasonable campus regulations and to refrain from unlawful or disruptive activities. The school may also require that membership in the organization be open to all students without regard to their sexual orientation. But in general, the regulations must be no different from those imposed on other school organizations.