A principal is being condemned for forcing two boys to hold hands in front of their classmates as a punishment for fighting.

Two students in Mesa, Arizona, were told by Tim Richards they had two choices; be suspended from school, or sit in chairs in the high school’s courtyard and hold hands for 15 minutes during a lunch period.

As they held hands other students took photographs, filmed the scene, and teased them for being gay, while the boys hid their faces from the camera.

Speaking to ABC affiliate KNXV, Brittney Smyers said: ‘Kids were laughing at them and calling them names, asking “Are you gay?”’.

As a short video of the two emerged, users were outraged at the public punishment; with some saying it positioned the teens as targets for taunting, name-calling and encouraging homophobic behavior.

Others suggested the punishment was anti-gay in itself, as it implied the idea of two males holding hands is embarrassing.

However some students have said they believe the punishment worked, and the controversy has blown it out of proportion.

Calls placed to Richards were not returned, but the school district issued a statement addressing the controversy.

It stated: ‘The district does not condone the choice of in-school discipline given these students, regardless of their acceptance or willingness to participate.

‘District leadership will address this matter with the school principal and review district protocol regarding student discipline with all administrators.’