Three law students at the University of Idaho are suing the school and administrators claiming they were punished for expressing their Christian beliefs.
The legal complaint says the three students attended a “moment of community” held by the UI College of Law on the Moscow campus in response to an anti-LGBTQ slur written on a whiteboard at the university’s Boise campus. According to court documents, the Christian Legal Society gathered at the event to condemn the slur and support their fellow students.
While they were there, another student approached them to ask why the group requires its officers to affirm that marriage is between one man and one woman. The group explained their view of marriage and sexuality, based on the Bible,
Shortly after the exchange, the unnamed student and several others denounced the chapter’s actions at a panel with the American Bar Association. A member of the Christian Legal Society at the university who attended the meeting countered the statements and argued the biggest discrimination on campus was against the group for its religious beliefs.
Three days later, the three members of the Christian Legal Society received no-contact orders from the university’s Office of Civil Rights and Investigations.
The university issued the no-contact orders under its Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy and its Code of Conduct and Disciplinary Policies. The students are claiming the policies were applied based on protected speech, rather than any conduct. They also say the policies were implemented because the university found their speech controversial and their views unfavorable.
The students in the lawsuit are seeking declaratory, injunctive and monetary relief as well as attorney’s fees and costs. They’re suing for violations of the First and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and for violations of Idaho’s Free Exercise of Religion Protected Act. (Lewiston Tribune)
