Fuller Theological Seminary of Pasadena, California. | Courtesy Fuller Theological Seminary
Posted on 11/23/2019 6:36:05 PM PST by SeekAndFind
Fuller Theological Seminary of Pasadena, California. | Courtesy Fuller Theological Seminary
A woman has filed a lawsuit against Fuller Theological Seminary, accusing it of violating Title IX rules when it expelled her for being in a same-sex marriage.
Joanna Maxon brought the suit against the nondenominational seminary on Thursday. The lawsuit is being filed in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
“Defendants discriminated against Mrs. Maxon based on her sexual orientation because it expelled Mrs. Maxon for entering into a civil same-sex marriage,” reads the suit, a copy of which was emailed to The Christian Post earlier this week. “Defendants also discriminated against Mrs. Maxon based on her sex and sexual orientation by subjecting her to stricter disciplinary action than Fuller would have subjected a male, heterosexual student.”
Paul Southwick, one of the attorneys for Maxon, told CP that this is the first case he's argued in which the student “filed a Title IX lawsuit because they have been expelled for a same-sex marriage.”
“The other cases I’ve taken on have dealt with gender identity discrimination or related to sexual conduct involving non-married LGBTQ students,” Southwick added. “With the legalization of same-sex marriage, institutions like Fuller will be encountering more and more students who are in same-sex marriages, particularly among graduate student populations.”
A photo of Joanna Maxon, who filed a lawsuit against Fuller Theological Seminary in November 2019 for expelling her due to her being in a same-sex marriage. | Courtesy Paul Southwick
Southwick also argued that if Fuller wants to hold traditional standards for their students, then they should “refrain from accepting public money and should not offer its services to the general public.”
“From a legal perspective, an expulsion based on sexual orientation, including one that is based on ‘homosexual conduct’ or a same-sex relationship, is illegal under Title IX at a place like Fuller because Fuller accepts federal funding,” Southwick asserted.
“From a moral perspective, an expulsion, particularly of someone who is a wife and mother, does not seem kind or ethical.”
CP reached out to Fuller for a response. A spokesperson explained that they could not offer a specific comment on anything related to one of their students.
The Seminary did, however, provide a statement via email noting that they are “a historically multi-denominational seminary” that has “a commitment to academic freedom” and strives “to serve the global Christian church in its various perspectives.”
“We remain committed to these relationships in all their complexities while maintaining community standards and a statement of faith that apply to various areas of beliefs and behavior,” continued the statement.
“Students are informed of and explicitly agree to abide by these standards when applying to the institution.”
According to the lawsuit, Maxon was expelled from Fuller in October 2018 for violating the Seminary’s “Community Standard: Sexual Standard,” which prohibits, among other things, “homosexual forms of explicit sexual conduct.”
The expulsion came after Maxon had already completed more than three years of classes and had acknowledged her same-sex marriage to students and faculty, according to the lawsuit.
In April, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear three cases centered on the question of whether Title IX, the federal law banning discrimination on the basis of sex, applies to sexual orientation and gender identity, neither of which are explicitly mentioned in the law.
The cases were R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, a case in which a Christian-owned funeral home was sued for firing a trans-identified employee who refused to adhere to a dress code for his biological sex, and two consolidated cases, Altitude Express Inc. v. Zarda and Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia.
“It’s Pat!”
(SNL joke)
Yep.
She clearly went to that school to get expelled and start a lawsuit. They should seen her coming and slammed the door in her face.
So, why are you there? If you know that theologically speaking, homosexuality is wrong, why are you there at Fuller? That makes no sense at all
So, will we again be told that Title IX trumps the Constitution? And again our God given religious rights will be arbitrarily determined by a group of black robed oligarchs who see no reason to use the Constitution as their guide in determining the constitutionality of laws (and “regulations”)
Somehow I figured she wouldn’t look like Kate Beckinsale...
That one sentence alone tells you how far down the rabbit hole we have fallen. Don't delude yourself, we aren't backing out of this rabbit hole.
This is why Hillsdale takes no federal funds.
Additionally it was not until 'after' same-sex marriage was legalized in the U.S., the two married in 2016.
So she changed her sexual lifestyle well AFTER she was accepted to the college as a traditionally married woman with two children.
Additionally it was not until 'after' same-sex marriage was legalized in the U.S., the two married in 2016.
So she changed her sexual lifestyle well AFTER she was accepted to the college as a traditionally married woman with two children.
She was accepted at the college as a traditional married woman with two children....she divorced her husband part way through her studies and began a homosexual lifestyle.
RE: This is why Hillsdale takes no federal funds.
Didn’t know that Fuller takes Federal funds. If they do, they should immediately get out of the program.
RE: So, why are you there? If you know that theologically speaking, homosexuality is wrong, why are you there at Fuller?
See Post #9 of this thread.
She has a slight resemblance to Trigglypuff.
Her ex-husband was lucky to get away.
As liberal as Fuller is, there has to be more to the story of why she was kicked out.
They have a LGBT group on campus, and are liberal on social issues. The president is part of the liberal PCUSA.
And, did I mention “liberal”?
Probably...but she obviously knew the standards of the college. After all it’s nt like she was a student persay....Married when she started and two children she’s no spring chicken. I think in her 50’s.
title ix doesnt apply here, eatie pie.
“[The School] should have seen her coming and slammed the door in her face.” Problem is — and I’m not joking, and I’m not beating up on everyone in higher education — most of the people, male and female, are less physically attractive than the people who work on Main Street or Wall Street. This chick doesn’t look that much different than many women married to men who teach at the college level.
Matrimony (state of being married)derives from Latin matrimonium meaning “marriage,” which derives from matrem meaning “mother.”
THERE’S NOT SUCH THING IS SAME SEX MARRIAGE!!!
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