U.S. Senate bill may exempt Christian colleges from antidiscrimination law

[davidinalameda]

http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid29845.asp

A bill pending in the United States Senate could exempt private Christian colleges from local nondiscrimination laws, allowing them to legally reject gay students. A proposed amendment to the 1965 Higher Education Act would make it easier for faith-based schools to discriminate against gays.

The amendment to the act, which was originally created to provide schools with the resources to let low-income students in, was proposed by Utah representative Chris Cannon. It would require accrediting boards to consider an institution's "religious and moral goals" during evaluation.

The bill could also prevent accrediting boards from requiring adherence to state and local nondiscrimination laws if they conflict with those goals. Many denominational schools have already voiced their approval of the bill, including Brigham Young, Notre Dame, Baylor, and Pepperdine.

The measure passed the House last week and was then sent to committee in the Senate, which also passed it. But before it did, the committee added language to the measure stating that it is "not meant to allow an institution to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability," leaving out only sexual orientation.


I really think that this bill opens the door for a lot more discrimination. If a hard-core fundie school discriminates against a Jew or a Muslim or even a more liberal Christian, wouldn't that fall under the "religious and moral goals" thing mentioned in the article?

[MindPilot]

1. Aww rats. I thought it was a bill that would allow me to

discriminate against christians. Fuck it, I'm gonna discriminate agin 'em anyways.

[davidinalameda]

2. set up your own college and you can run it any way you want

[DBoon]

3. but could I get federal money while doing so?

doubt it

[LiberalPartisan]

5. Only if you accept NO Federal funds...

But I'm sure these Fascist colleges are feeding at the trough - if they can ever shove Falwell's fat ass out of the way.

[bullimiami]

4. private xtian schools can do whatever the hell they like.

if they give them public money they better be open to everyone.

[TechBear_Seattle]

6. Already posted to Latest Breaking News

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2233034

And cross-referenced here in GLBT:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=221x32673


This link will take you to the relevant portion of the bill, along with an analysis of what it means.

[William769]

7. Shouldn't the bill read to allow legal discrimination?

[davidinalameda]

8. truth in advertising should apply to bills

yepster!

[pro_blue_guy]

9. I wouldn't want to go a school like that anyway....