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(Washington) Private Christian colleges would be
excepted from local and state non-discrimination laws under a proposed amendment
to the Higher Education Act - a move that would allow the schools to legally
reject LGBT students.
The amendment, proposed by Rep. Chris Cannon
(R-Utah), would prevent accrediting boards from making adherence to
non-discrimination laws a requirement.
The measure passed the House last week and is
currently before the Senate
Brigham Young, University of Notre Dame, Baylor,
Pepperdine and Samford universities have all been lobbying heavily for passage
of the bill.
Although few boards specifically make adherence
to non-discrimination laws a requirement for accreditation the schools say they
want assurances they will not be targeted in the future.
"This is really a pre-emptive move on the
part of these schools," BYU spokesperson Carri Jenkins told the Deseret
Morning News.
Pressure from the school has increased as a
result of the Soulforce Equality Ride, a cross country protest of universities
and colleges that do not permit gays to enroll.
Last week 30 riders were arrested over two days
of demonstrations at BYU, which is affiliated with the Mormon Church. (story)
The Equality Ride began last month in Washington
D.C.. Riders have been arrested at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma (story);
Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia (story)
which is affiliated with Christian Broadcaster Pat Robertson; and at Jerry
Falwell's Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. (story)
On Friday another ten riders were arrested at the
Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. (story)
Democrats in both houses of Congress oppose the
amendment.
When the bill passed in a Senate committee
Democrats wrote that "we believe that the amendment is not warranted
in light of current practices by accrediting agencies and could have
tremendous implications for the independence of accrediting agencies in
determining appropriate standards for accreditation."
The committee also inserted language in the bill
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. The provision does not include sexuality.
©365Gay.com 2006
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