{"id":61837,"date":"2018-01-18T22:20:29","date_gmt":"2018-01-19T03:20:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/banned-anti-gay-christian-student-group-sues-university-of-iowa-for-discrimination\/"},"modified":"2018-01-18T22:20:29","modified_gmt":"2018-01-19T03:20:29","slug":"banned-anti-gay-christian-student-group-sues-university-of-iowa-for-discrimination","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/banned-anti-gay-christian-student-group-sues-university-of-iowa-for-discrimination\/","title":{"rendered":"Banned Anti-Gay Christian Student Group Sues University of Iowa For Discrimination"},"content":{"rendered":"

Banned Anti-Gay Christian Student Group Sues University of Iowa For Discrimination<\/b>
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University of Iowa Eclipse Party<\/a> by Phil Roeder<\/a> (CC2.0<\/a>)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

A Christian student group is suing the University of Iowa<\/a> after it was banned for discriminating against a gay<\/a> student.<\/span><\/p>\n

The 10-member Business Leads In Christ was founded in 2015 and met weekly to mentor students on \u201chow to continually keep Christ first in the fast-paced business world.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Insert \u201cbecause god\u201d comment here, readers.<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED:\u00a0Christian Group Banned For Kicking Out Gay Student Sues University of Iowa<\/a><\/em><\/h2>\n

Although the group claims that membership is open to everyone, it requires leaders to affirm a statement of faith that rejects homosexuality.<\/span><\/p>\n

Gay group member Marcus Miller filed a complaint last February after the group denied his request to serve as its vice president.<\/span><\/p>\n

WQAD8<\/b><\/a> reports:<\/span><\/p>\n

The group says it denied Miller\u2019s request because he rejected its religious beliefs and would not follow them. Group leaders must affirm a statement of faith that affirms that they \u201cembrace, not reject, their God-given sex<\/a>\u201d and support the idea that marriage can be only between a man<\/a> and a woman<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEvery other sexual relationship beyond this is outside of God\u2019s design and is not in keeping with God\u2019s original plan for humanity,\u201d the statement of faith says.<\/span><\/p>\n

The group\u2019s lawsuit, filed in federal court in Davenport, says it \u201ccannot and will not ask leaders who do not share its beliefs to lead members in prayer or to convey those beliefs.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEvery organization to exist has to be able to select leaders who embrace its mission,\u201d the group\u2019s attorney, Eric Baxter with the nonprofit law firm Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, said. \u201cYou would never ask an environmental group to have a climate denier as their leader. It\u2019s the same thing here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Judge Stephanie M. Rose has set a hearing on a request to reinstate Business Leads In Christ\u2019s on-campus privileges.<\/span><\/p>\n

Loss of registration means it can no longer reserve meeting space, participate in student recruitment fairs, access funds from student activity fees or use university communication services.<\/span><\/p>\n

University spokeswoman Jeneane Beck said that student groups must guarantee \u201cthat equal opportunity and equal access to membership, programming, facilities, and benefits shall be open to all persons.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

However, the college acknowledged that the court \u201cmust carefully weigh the compelling interest of religious freedom on the one hand and the compelling interest of preventing discrimination on the other hand.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Miller has founded his own university-recognized Christian group Love Works to advocate for justice on LGBT issues.<\/span><\/p>\n

The post Banned Anti-Gay Christian Student Group Sues University of Iowa For Discrimination<\/a> appeared first on Towleroad<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Banned Anti-Gay Christian Student Group Sues University of Iowa For Discrimination<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n