Judge: ‘NO’ to campus bigotry

[meegbear]

Looks like more bad news for homo-hating Christian groups in California public colleges and universities. After demanding the right to be recognized as a campus organization at San Diego State and Long Beach State universities, while officially barring non-Christians and queer people, Every Nation Campus Ministries has been told by a federal judge to essentially suck it. Prior to 2005 the group was recognized, but in 2005, their constitution was changed to bar non-Christians and queer people. When informed their discriminatory policy made them ineligible for recognition and funding, the Christian group, of course, launched a lawsuit.

From The San Diego Union-Tribune:

Christian student group loses lawsuit over SDSU policy

By Greg Moran

FEDERAL COURT — A federal judge ruled yesterday that a nondiscrimination policy at San Diego State and Long Beach State universities required for formal campus recognition does not infringe on the rights of religious groups that demand fidelity to Christian ideals and bar openly gay students.

The ruling by District Judge Larry A. Burns decides the lawsuit filed by Every Nation Campus Ministries in 2005. The group had alleged that complying with the policy violated its rights to free speech, free association and religious liberty.

It sought an injunction that would force the campus to recognize the group, and a finding that failing to abide by the policy was unconstitutional.

But Burns, relying on previous case law, said the policy was intended to regulate conduct, not speech or association.

He also said any restrictions in the policy were reasonable and "viewpoint neutral" and therefore not unconstitutional.

Needless to say, the decision will be appealed because religious freedom these days is about little other than being free to discriminate. Riding in on his big white Christian stallion, Jeremy Tedesco, of the Alliance Defense Fund, said the group was disappointed, but will, of course, appeal the organization’s right to a whites-only Christians-only membership policy. You can bet they’ll take it all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary.

Meanwhile back in the land of the sane, Susan Westover, the university’s lawyer, said, "This ruling keeps the doors open for all student organizations which, in order to gain official recognition, must be inclusive, not discriminatory."

http://www.miketidmus.com/blog/2009/02/07/judge-says-no-to-campus-bigotry/

[TechBear_Seattle]

1. I don't think I've ever seen you quite this annoyed

I can't say I blame you, but still. I completely agree with your statement that "religious freedom these days is about little other than being free to discriminate."

[bluedawg12]

2. Yeah, their freedom to worship bigotry and way too much money for law suits.

[davidinalameda]

3. I disagree with this ruling

it is about freedom of association

I can't imagine a judge forcing the student bar association to admit theatre majors or a sorority to be forced to admit girls they don't want to admit

would you want the local GLBT student group to be forced to allow people who were anti-gay to become members

I can see in some cases students coming in and taking over groups whose purposes they disagree with simply to shut them down

[Deep13]

4. Reality has to trump belief...

...especially when public support is involved.

[davidinalameda]

6. I'm not clear on what you mean

[GodlessBiker]

7. If a sorority refused to admit black young woman, I can imagine them being shut down.

Or at least not being given official recognition or funding.

[davidinalameda]

10. that's the difference

they could discriminate against black men until the cows come home and it would be perfectly fine or white men or whatever race of men but they could and do discriminate against men in their membership policies

they are a FEMALE only group

[GodlessBiker]

11. Wait...so a sorority could discriminate against black women? They have that freedom of association?

[Hassin Bin Sober]

13. His socially retarded logic falls apart right about here. Don't expect an answer.

[mtnester]

8. It is not about that and you know it

if that student bar association said NO BLACKS, it is discriminatory...and yes, they can be forced to allow "theater majors"

Saying NO QUEERS is NOT the same as saying no to theater majors...again, you know that don't you?

There are some things that you cannot discriminate against...being a theater major" is not one of them.

[davidinalameda]

9. people have the right of association

religion is one of those "sacred"' areas, pardon the pun

if I was a member of a liberal Christian student group, I'd want members in my group who share my belief and I'd want a way to keep out those who don't

I don't want a bunch of fundies coming in and taking over

and why so hostile

and you can discriminate against sex and religion and sexual orientation and belief systems

[GodlessBiker]

12. Do employers have a freedom of association? Unfettered?

[mtnester]

14. See post 13

it applies here too

[xchrom]

5. recommend