Court ruling allows private schools to expel gays
A State court ruling allowing private schools to expel lesbian students creates the possibility of similar discrimination across the state, however President Terry Lee assures that no Moreau student should \"ever fear that sexual identity could put them in jeopardy.\"
March 17, 2009 • written by Allison Murray
After years of progress towards equality for all, the gay rights community
suffered a setback with the January California Supreme Court ruling (Jane
Doe v. Cal. Lutheran H.S.) that gives private schools the license to
discriminate against their students.
After questions concerning the sexuality of two female students attending a
Riverside County Lutheran high school arose, the girls were expelled, their
behavior deemed “characteristic of a lesbian relationship.”
The girls, who elected to remain anonymous, sued the school for violating
California’s anti-discrimination laws the court ruled against them,
stating that their private religious school was not a business and therefore
did not have to adhere to the state law that prohibits discrimination within
businesses.
The consequence of this ruling is that it will now be very simple for
private schools across the state to avoid further discrimination charges,
especially when the discrimination can be founded in the teachings of their
religion.
President Terry Lee was shocked to hear of this ruling and immediately
insisted that, “No student at Moreau should ever fear that their sexual
identity could put them in jeopardy of being a student here.”
Lee’s astonishment was based in the fact that he has never come across such
a case of discrimination in his years of experience with the Catholic
education system.
Though homosexuality is fundamentally disagreed with by Catholic doctrine,
Lee referred to the 1987 statement made by the United States Catholic
Bishops, which reads: “Those who are gay or lesbians should not be objects
of discrimination, injustice or violence. All of God’s sons and daughters,
all members of our society, are entitled to the recognition of their full
human dignity.”
Student and faculty opinion on the subject of the fairness or correctness of
this court ruling varies dramatically around the school.
“If you’re paying thousands of dollars to attend a school then you shouldn¹t
be able to be kicked out based only on your sexual preference,” freshman
John Lyell said.
Across the lunch table, his friend, junior Justin Giron, fellow member of
the Diversity in Action club, had a differing opinion.
“They’re a private institution so they should be able to do what they want,”
Giron said.
Despite being a private institution, for some students there is the question
of upholding the basic human rights we have been fighting to maintain since
the founding of our nation.
“Considering how far this country has come, it’s just like we’re reverting
back to how we were before,” junior Katie Costa said.
Senior Anna Misra worries about the possibilities this ruling will bring: “I think it¹s disgusting and
it opens the door for more discrimination of any kind,” she said.
English teacher Kathe Weltchek was revolted that such a court ruling would
occur, saying, “It’s absolutely appalling that in this day and age anyone is
being discriminated against based on their sexuality.”
As far as the church’s policy on homosexuality, Fr. Tito Bonoan said, “Jesus
was hanging on the cross with open arms, welcoming everyone.”
According to Lee, there is no reason for such extreme actions as expulsion
to be taken for a homosexual relationship. It all depends on the behavior of
those within the relationship, whether it be homosexual or heterosexual.
“We don’t have a specific policy for addressing this kind of issue. Our
policies concerning excessive or inappropriate affection apply to all
students,” Lee said.
According to Bonoan, reasons for expulsion also lie in behavior, not the
basic fact of loving someone of the same sex.
“When two people of the same sex love each other, they have the right to do
so,” Bonoan said. “How you handle the relationship is the bottom line.”
Loading ...
Great article!
I believe that discrimination against gays is wrong because people are supposed love one another. After all, God created us, and to hate someone else without giving him or her a chance is like not giving God’s creation a chance.
Nowadays, it seems as if gays are going through what blacks were going through to gain their human rights.