Fifth-grader, 11, speaks out after school banned her from starting interfaith prayer club due to 'lack of funding' just weeks after approving LGBTQ Pride group

A fifth grader from Washington State who wanted to start an interfaith prayer club at school because 'she felt alone' is speaking out after her request was denied.

Laura Toney, who is 11 and attends Creekside Elementary School in Sammamish, east of Seattle, had hoped to start the on-campus club to bring together students of different faith backgrounds to 'serve their community'.

But her pitch to start such a club was rejected despite a Pride Club being approved only weeks earlier.

'I wanted to start it because I felt kind of alone in the classroom and at school and so I realized I had some friends and I knew some other people that felt the same way and so I talked to them and I was just like you know what it would be a great idea to make a club where people could come together and do good in the community,' Laura told Fox News.

 The school is now being accused of violating the young student's First Amendment's religious freedom protections by denying her request.

11-year-old Laura Toney's request to start an interfaith prayer club at her elementary school was rejected by the school principal despite allowing 'other non-religious clubs to meet'

'I think that this is something that I am very passionate about. I wouldn't be here if I didn't really want to make this happen, if I didn't think that it would be a great opportunity for everyone,' Laura added. 

Creekside already allows more than a dozen other 'non-religious clubs' to meet including a Pride Club, which is a 'safe space' for educating students and staff on 'LGBTQIA+ history and people,' according to the school's website.

Principal Amy Allison also allows a Green Team, focused on making the school 'more sustainable'.  A Marimba Club, Chess Club and Student Council are all among other secular groups currently permitted.

Laura's mother, Kayla Toney, is associate counsel at First Liberty Institute, a nonprofit Christian conservative legal organization which often litigates in First Amendment cases on religion.  

'The first amendment is clear, the free speech clause and the free exercise clause both protect Laura's ability to pray, to speak about her faith, to gather with other religious students and the law is clear,' Kayla Toney said during the same Fox interview.

'If the school allows at least one non-curricular club, no matter what the club is about, it has to allow a religious club and it's actually viewpoint discrimination to deny a religious club just because it's religious.'

Creekside Elementary allows a Pride Club, which is a 'safe space for students to build community' as well as to 'educate and raise student and staff awareness about LGBTQIA+ history and people,' according to the school's website

The Pride club is said to have started at the school only recently, yet Laura's request for a prayer club was denied citing funding issues

Kayla Toney has put her beliefs down in a detailed letter, writing to the Issaquah School District on behalf of First Liberty Institute.

She wrote: 'Denying the formation of a religious student club while allowing other clubs violates the Constitution. School officials at Creekside Elementary are engaged in religious discrimination against an eleven-year-old girl who simply wants to pray, feel support from other religious friends, and do community service.'

When Laura and her mom met with Principal Allison in February, it was claimed all the funding for school clubs had already been allocated back in October, yet the pair allege how a Pride Club was launched just weeks before the meeting took place.

A spokesperson for the school has explained the prayer club's funding shortfall.

'Once the school year begins, the building budget is set and additional clubs are usually not added until the following school year,' the school stated, but Kayla does not buy the school's reasoning. 

'She [Laura] even offered to do fundraisers if necessary. The Pride club again had started just a week before and another club is due to start pretty soon as well. So that excuse definitely did not make sense,' Kayla explained. 

'The supreme court made it very clear that the First Amendment protects students and employees freedom and ability to live out their faith publicly, to pray, to exercise their faith. It's not something we have to hide as Americans because we have this strong protection of the first amendment.'

Kayla Toney states that the request to start a prayer club should be permitted no later than April 29, 2024. 

'If we do not hear from you and receive those assurances by that time, we will proceed as our clients direct, likely pursuing all available legal remedies,' a letter to the principal concludes.

Laura's mom, Kayla Toney, right, has put her beliefs down in a detailed letter, writing to the Issaquah School District on behalf of First Liberty Institute where she has warned how the school is in breach of the constitution

Mom, Kayla Toney, who is an attorney at First Liberty Institute that litigates First Amendment breaches  says the request to start a prayer club should be permitted no later than April 29

'We are ready to litigate if needed' and are 'fully prepared to take this to court.'

DailyMail.com has reached out to the Creekside Elementary School and the school board for comment. 

A spokesperson for the district said they have received the letter and will follow up with additional details following the spring break holiday.

'As you may already know, clubs offered are student-interest driven and meet outside of the school day. At the elementary level, participation in a club also requires parent permission,' spokesperson Lesha Engels said in a statement. 

'Once the school year begins, the building budget is set, and additional clubs are usually not added until the following school year.'