US Supreme Court suspends registration of LGBT student union

US Supreme Court suspends registration of LGBT student union

As is customary in summary proceedings at the Supreme Court, no reasons were given for the decision or how the individual justices voted. A detailed review of the legal dispute will now take place before a final verdict is reached.

A New York judge has ordered Yeshiva University to grant student union status to the gay, bisexual and transgender community Yeshiva Pride Alliance beginning this semester. The group was established in 2018 and is thus entitled to use university premises and services.

Yeshiva University, which has about 5,000 students, said in its application to the Supreme Court that as a “deeply religious” Jewish university, it cannot implement the judge’s order because it “violates true religious beliefs. Torah”. The student club, on the other hand, argued that the university offers many secular courses and accepts non-Jewish students as well. Therefore, she cannot deny some students access to resources because of their sexual orientation.

The case comes amid ongoing controversy in the United States over the balance between religious freedom and anti-discrimination policies. After several new appointments by former US President Donald Trump, the majority of the Supreme Court are conservative justices who prioritize the right to religious freedom over protections against discrimination. Six of the nine Supreme Court justices belong to the conservative camp.

AFP