Thursday, July 29, 2010



Augusta State University makes approval of homosexuality compulsory

I covered this a few days ago on EDUCATION WATCH but it obviously has a place here too. The news that a university has ordered a student to lose her religion has gone worldwide now
"A graduate student in Georgia is suing her university after she was told she must undergo a remediation program due to her beliefs on homosexuality and transgendered persons.

The student, Jennifer Keeton, 24, has been pursuing a master's degree in school counseling at Augusta State University since 2009, but school officials have informed her that she'll be dismissed from the program unless she alters her "central religious beliefs on human nature and conduct," according to a civil complaint filed last week.

Keeton's lawsuit alleges that the university's remediation plan noted Keeton's "disagreement in several class discussions and in written assignments with the gay and lesbian 'lifestyle,'" as well as Keeton's belief that those "lifestyles" are cases of identity confusion.

David French, senior counsel at the Alliance Defense
Fund, which filed the lawsuit against Augusta State University on Keeton's behalf, said no university has the right to force a citizen to change their beliefs on any topic...

"A student has a right to express their point of view in and out of class without fear or censorship or expulsion," French said.

Source

That freedom FROM religion clause in the Leftist version of the 1st Amendment again.

12 comments:

Bobby said...

I hope Jennifer Keeton plans to teach in a Christian school, because some of her beliefs could affect her job performance if she has to deal with homosexual or transgender students. Then again, perhaps she can refer them to someone else. That's what honest people do when they don't like their clients.

With that said, Jennifer should be judged on her knowledge of the material and the answers she gives on the test, not her personal beliefs.

Southerner said...

Bobby, what of all the other religions that see homosexuality as wrong/immoral? Should they also be segregated?

What is the South coming to that this university would place a higher value on political correctness than on someone's "Constitutionally protected" religious beliefs? So, accepting the homosexual lifestyle is now compulsory? And if that's the case, shouldn't accepting Christianity, or some other religious belief, also be compulsory? Once again, we see yet another leftist university defying reality, until that is, the lawyers step in.

Hopefully, this student and her lawyers will drain enough money from this leftist indoctrination camp that they will have to close their doors.

Anonymous said...

People should be able to believe what they want even though it may be judged to be batshit crazy. Just keep them away from me.

Anonymous said...

Then again, perhaps she can refer them to someone else. That's what honest people do when they don't like their clients.

That is part of the problem, Bobby. The ethics and standards of the two professional organizations the cover counselors both allow for a counselor to refer someone to another counselor when the views of the counselor and the client are inconsistent. Clients are referred to other counselors up to 40% of the time.

The exception is that the professional groups, who sanction the curriculum at the schools, say that when there is a difference based on religion or sexual identity, the counselor must examine their beliefs. Even after that the counselor is allowed to refer the client to another counselor.

Here the school is saying that they have the right to force a religious belief down the throat of a person in order to fulfill a course requirement. They are denying her a degree based solely on her religious convictions. At the very least, they have created a "hostile environment" for people of faith.

The school is in the public sector and must, according to the 1964 Civil Rights Act make "reasonable accommodations" when dealing with a valid religious conviction.

No one in their right mind would think that allowing the woman to refer the client to another counselor is not reasonable when such referrals occur 40% of the time.

The First Amendment guarantees the woman the right to her religious beliefs. Those beliefs are not harming anyone. By law, the school must accommodate her.

Bobby said...

"Bobby, what of all the other religions that see homosexuality as wrong/immoral? Should they also be segregated?"

---I never said that. I'm only questioning Keeton's ability to do her job in a secular environment where you're gonna have to deal with all kinds of people.


"So, accepting the homosexual lifestyle is now compulsory?"

---Not it's not and it should not be. Keeton should be allowed to take the same exams every student takes and graduate just like every other student. My only concern is for the future. After all, just like a christian school wouldn't want a Muslim counselor, I don't know if she would fit in in the secular environment of a public high school. Maybe I'm wrong, maybe she can deal with any client, and I would hope that's the case.

Anonymous said...

Bobby is clueless once again. Ms Keeton has not demonstrated an inabilty to interact with other people who believe differently than she. She has just expressed her belief that that is not the way it should be. There is absolutely no reason why she would not be able to teach any damn where she pleases. My guess is, she would be one of the best teachers there, wherever she went.

Bobby said...

"Bobby is clueless once again. Ms Keeton has not demonstrated an inabilty to interact with other people who believe differently than she."

---I'm only playing devil's advocate here. Now if I was a homosexual and she was assigned to my school, and I go to her because I'm depressed and she started telling me how I can become heterosexual through prayer, Id' be pissed off.

Anonymous said...

It's clearly an abuse of professionalism in a secular or non-specific religious institution or context for such a "professional" to suggest to a vulnerable client a particular religious solution or outcome. If she/he wishes to do that they should teach or advise in an appropriate Christian/Molsem/or whatever institution where the client is forewarned or predisposed.

Brian from NY said...

3:01...You are reacting to what "may" be instead of what is. Keeton has not even set up shop to counsel people and you already have her preaching to her 'vulnerable' patients.

This has nothing to do with her professional actions, of which there are none. This has everything to do with her presenting an honest opinion of things based on her religious beliefs.

Forcing her to go to a remediation program because of her beliefs is sending a clear message that only certain 'government approved' beliefs are allowed, and your religion is not among them, so you need not apply.

So much for freedom of religion.

Anonymous said...

Bobby said "---I'm only playing devil's advocate here. Now if I was a homosexual and she was assigned to my school, and I go to her because I'm depressed and she started telling me how I can become heterosexual through prayer, Id' be pissed off."

Do you really want us to believe that you know how a woman you have never met would handle a situation that she may never actually be in?

Give it up. Nothing you have said disproves that you are clueless.

Anonymous said...

Give Bobby a break. He's got enough problems being from FloriDUH.

Bobby said...

"Give Bobby a break. He's got enough problems being from FloriDUH."

---And where are you from, Mr. Florida Hater? If Florida is so uncool how come we get all the retirees, not to mention anyone who wants to escape winter? We're even better than California, in Florida you don't need a wet suit to swim at the beach, we have WARM waters.