Expelled . . . for being lesbians?
In 2005, two female students were expelled from a private Lutheran school in California after engaging in behaviors that were considered to be “characteristic of a lesbian relationship,” according to the Los Angeles Times. A recent court case maintained that the school was within its rights to do so, much to the dismay of those who believe this to be discrimination, not to mention the students themselves. The school’s position is that the disciplinary action was consistent with its religious mission, and that as a private institution, they were within their rights to enforce a code of conduct based upon Christian values. However, what was really protected here - freedom of religion, or the right to discriminate?
It is widely known that anti-discrimination laws protect citizens from discrimination based on sexual orientation, among other criteria. Indeed, the decision in California’s 4th District Court of Appeal hinged upon the court’s decision that the school was not a business, and therefore was not obligated to abide by these laws. However, despite the exemption that the law allowed, the question remains: Were the school’s actions moral?
As a Christian institution, the school has a conduct code that is likely to include rules in keeping with Christian teachings, and this includes the belief that homosexuality is a sin. The code forbids students from deviating from those rules whether they are on or off campus, and it is stated in the conduct code that to do so is grounds for expulsion. However, it seems to me that such a policy is overly restrictive for high school students. The teaching of religious principles is one thing - however, for a student’s academic career to be derailed by way of expulsion for anything less than strict adherence does more harm than good. While individual institutions may have their own agendas, religious or otherwise, they are primarily educational institutions. Discipline should not come at a disproportionate cost to the student’s academic development, nor should it stifle self-discovery.
