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Student Appeals College's Punishment for Anti-Gay Views

  • Religion Today Religious persecution, missions, Christianity around the world
  • Updated Dec 12, 2012

December 3, 2011

The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments last month in a religious liberty case that could determine whether a college has the right to require students to profess certain beliefs in order to get a degree, WORLD News Service reports. Augusta State University put counseling student Jennifer Keeton on academic probation in 2010 after she said she disagreed with homosexuality; administrators also faulted her for saying she wanted to work with conversion therapy -- helping clients stop living a gay lifestyle -- after graduation. After probation, the school required Keeton to attend gay pride events, attend sensitivity training and write monthly reflection papers; she declined, however, and the Alliance Defense Fund filed suit on her behalf, saying her First Amendment rights were violated since the school targeted her for her views. Attorneys for both sides declined comment after the hearing because the case is under a gag order by the court.