Once again, like the Christian baker case, we have a case that should be resolved quite promptly and easily but isn't because an quickly enlarging treason class is unwilling to recognize the US Constitution.
This example from the University of Iowa.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The University of Iowa is caught up in a legal fight with a conservative Christian student group that denied a leadership position to a student who is gay.
The case pits a university policy barring discrimination based on sexual orientation against the religious beliefs of a 10-member group called Business Leaders in Christ. The group sued after the state's flagship university in Iowa City revoked its campus registration in November.
The group says its membership is open to everyone, but that its leaders must affirm a statement of faith that rejects homosexuality. The university says it respects the right of students, faculty and staff to practice the religion of their choice but does not tolerate discrimination of any kind.
First thing to note is that the U of Iowa is a
public university which means it has an extra burden of protecting the
constitutional rights of it's employees and students. Unlike a private university which are largely exempt from such requirements the U of Iowa
is required to protect the constitutional right of freedom of exercise of religion. No if, and, buts or maybes.
A student member of Business Leaders in Christ, Marcus Miller, filed a complaint with the university last February after the group denied his request to serve as its vice president. Miller's request was rejected after he disclosed he was gay.
He has no basis for the complaint. The first amendment clearly covers the group and the U of Iowa is bound by law to recognize the group. But this is another example, like the baker case, where a person who knew full well the culture of the organization he was dealing with, decided to make a nuisance of himself and deny the group it's constitutionally protected rights.
Miller did not respond to messages seeking comment about the lawsuit. He has since started his own university-recognized, Jesus-centered student organization, Love Works, to advocate for justice on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual issues.
While I don't agree with this organization I recognize that this is also the right of this student. Just as the Christian group had a right to decide how it would exercise it's religion, Miller and his friends are able to create a group and exercise his religion the way
he sees fit without interference from the university or the state.
