Courts Unreceptive to Counselors Claiming Their Religious Opposition to Homosexuality Justifies Their Refusal to Serve Homosexual Clients

Crosswalk.com and USA Today have recently noted that federal district courts in Michigan and Georgia have dismissed religious discrimination claims filed by psychological counseling students or employed counselors who face academic or workplace discipline after citing a religious objection to homosexuality as the basis for either refusing to treat a homosexual client or refusing to withhold expressions of opposition to homosexuality in the therapeutic context.  Such conduct has been deemed inconsistent with relevant professional ethical standards by employers, such as the CDC, and by counseling training programs, such as those at Augusta State University and Eastern Michigan University.  The Alliance Defense Fund is currently representing several plaintiffs in such litigation.  Their complaint in the Augusta State University case is available via the ADF website.  

JFB