27 colleges exempted from equality law so they can expel LGBT students
27 American colleges are now allowed to ignore a law aimed at combatting gender inequality in sport so they can safely discriminate against LGBT pupils.
The US Department of Education granted the wavers after the colleges demanded exemptions from parts of Title IX, a law that was originally enacted to combat sexism in educational institutions.
According to a report in The Column, the colleges are seeking the exemptions so they will be free to deny services to LGBT students and expel current LGBT students without fear of legal repercussions.
Title IX became law in 1972 as a response to women and girls being denied access to sports programs in American educational institutions and states that:
“No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.”
The Column claims that a transgender student was denied housing at George Fox University in Oregon because of their gender identity, and was unable to take legal action, as the university had already been granted a waiver.
80,000 students attend the 27 colleges and nine more are also seaking waivers.
Spring Arbor in Michigan was one of the first colleges that was succesfully granted exemption, where a spokesperson told Inside Higher Ed “We are grateful to live in a nation where we as a Christ-centered university may shape our institution in accordance with our convictions and commitments.”
Recently a couple was denied a military spouse tuition discount from Liberty University in Texas because they are a same-sex couple.
