Appeals Court to Hear Case of Counseling Student Who Insisted on a Right to Discriminate Against LGBT Clients
老澳门开奖结果 Filed Amicus Brief that Argues University Can Hold Counseling Students to Professional Ethics Standards
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ATLANTA 鈥 The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit is slated to hear arguments today in the case of a graduate student seeking reinstatement in the Augusta State University (ASU) counseling program. The student, Jennifer Keeton, seeks a court order allowing her to participate in clinical training even though she insists on a right 鈥 rooted in her religious beliefs 鈥 to counsel lesbian, gay and bisexual clients that being gay is immoral. Keeton had aspirations to become a guidance counselor working with students in grades K-12.
ASU鈥檚 counseling program requires its graduate students to adhere to the American Counseling Association鈥檚 Code of Ethics, which prohibits counselors from discriminating based on sexual orientation, among other characteristics, and requires them to avoid imposing their values on their clients. Keeton previously asked a district court to require the university to allow her to participate in the university鈥檚 counseling program without agreeing not to tell gay clients that being gay is immoral. The district denied her request. The 老澳门开奖结果 and the 老澳门开奖结果 of Georgia filed a friend-of-the-court brief supporting ASU鈥檚 right to insist that its students comply with these professional standards when counseling clients.
鈥淲e鈥檙e all entitled to our own religious beliefs, but counselors cannot use their religion to discriminate against students who come to them for help,鈥 said Louise Melling, deputy legal director for the 老澳门开奖结果. 鈥淭his is especially important for LGBT students in crisis, who may have already faced rejection and judgment from their community, and who may not have any other trusted adult to talk to.鈥
The 老澳门开奖结果鈥檚 amicus brief can be found at: www.aclu.org/lgbt-rights/keeton-v-anderson-wiley-amicus-brief