Education

Christian Student Expelled Over Her Views on Homosexuality Loses Lawsuit Against GA University

Jennifer Keeton Loses Lawsuit Against Augusta State University | Homosexuality

Jennifer Keeton

There’s a tricky and potentially-troubling situation going on when it comes to individuals who are studying counseling in college, but who happen to oppose homosexuality. Jennifer Keeton, a Christian, learned this the hard way after she was expelled from the graduate program at Georgia’s Augusta State University in 2010 for expressing her disagreement with the same-sex lifestyle. Now, two years later, she has lost a subsequent court case defending herself against the school’s decision.

Here’s how the situation unfolded. The university‘s program apparently stressed that students couldn’t discriminate against others based on any indicators, including sexual orientation. But Keeton, citing her religious views, refused to alter her engagement with gay students and clients (clearly, these views impacted her relations with these individuals). It’s not clear exactly what Keeting said inside or outside of the classroom that created such a stir, but this is certainly an interest First Amendment case to continue watching.

While the school argues that Keeton deserved to be dismissed, the former student says that she, in fact, was the victim of discrimination — especially considering the fact that she was kicked out of the program explicitly over her personal beliefs.

She was initially put on probation and was told that she would need to follow a “remediation plan” to remain in good standing with the university. This plan, though, included sensitivity training, writing papers about tolerance and the lessons she had learned and attendance at gay pride events. Naturally, Keeton refused to comply and she was removed from the program.

“The case hinged on whether the policies governing the counseling program were neutral and generally applicable to all students, regardless of their religious beliefs,” World on Campus explains. “Judge J. Randall Hall, of the Southern District of Georgia, determined that they were.”

“Keeton’s speech and conduct were evidently impelled by the absolutist philosophical character of her beliefs, but that character does not entitle her to university accommodation and it is irrelevant to the court’s analysis,” Hall wrote, clearly showing favor for Augusta State. “Neutrality as a legal standard is immutable, it does not bend to the strength or tenor of personal conviction.”

World on Campus has more about the judge’s controversial ruling:

In his ruling, Hall compared Keeton’s situation to that of an abortion provider who was required by state regulation to give women information about abortion alternatives. In a 1992 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court determined such regulations did not violate the abortion provider’s First Amendment rights, even though they required him to provide information about pro-life options with which he disagreed. The government has the right to regulate certain professional conduct, as long as it does not single out a particular religion in doing so, Hall ruled.

Currently, the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), a conservative legal group representing Keeton in the case, is looking at options following the district court’s opinion and will soon make a decision about next steps.

(H/T: Christian Post)

Comments (445)

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  • AJAYW
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 8:56am

    The only thing I like about the muslins is how the handle these licker and suckers.

    Report Post »  
    • kentatwater
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 9:11am

      It’s called a “Moby,” people.

      http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=moby

      Report Post »  
    • BSdetector
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 9:40am

      Lol who knew there was a word for it?

      Report Post » BSdetector  
    • Scaz
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:55am

      I learned something new today. :)

      Thanks Kentatwater!

      Report Post » Scaz  
    • minorityconservative2
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 1:32pm

      Oh my goodness that was a very weird site. But some of it was so funny. I don’t like cussing but I could not stop laughing.

      Report Post »  
    • Axit
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 3:00am

      @KENTATWATER — Thank you for clearing the air. It’s been bereft with synthesis since Hegel and prior to that Kant, yet not a soul but Marcuse could give it any erectile function, that is until a useful idiot like Moby gave it pop culture appeal.

      Let’s move this Wiener FORWARD.

      Look biotches! You are “Moby’s” and we are forever on the hunt.

      Report Post »  
  • momrules
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 8:56am

    There will be a time, soon I believe, that Christians will have to hide to talk about their faith and to worship God.
    This is becoming more frequent in Muslim countries and countries that they are conquering.
    In America the liberals are doing the job of the Muslim except they have not resorted to violence. They are still using the court system.

    Report Post »  
    • weremoose
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:13am

      For now. Look to China for the logical conclusion of the path we are on. Can you talk about your religion openly in China? It’s not just the Muslims.

      Report Post » weremoose  
    • encinom
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:34am

      Please, Christians are finally being told that they don’t run the show and are now having paranoid hissy fits about imgainiary boogeymen.

      Report Post »  
    • anomnomnommm
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:56am

      People are completely free to express their religious beliefs so long as it doesn’t injure others. In this case it is judged that it would have, since she refused to do her job as required by the professional standards in place. Just because you hate Muslims doesn’t mean you can deny them health or happiness. You give Christians a bad reputation.

      Report Post »  
    • ChiefGeorge
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 11:19am

      Mom,

      I agree! There will come a time when you will also have to denounce God and or Jesus! That time is upon us!

      We keep believing these things are impossible when clearly we are being set up for such a thing to happen. Once you fully grasp why people are soooo enraged over Christians belief in one God, the Father of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God who revealed truth and laws for man to live by, once God did this, his people have been persecuted ever since because sin is self condemning…God wrote his laws on the hearts of all men…even the unbelievers and the wicked alike. This is how we get a conscious for right and wrong…the moral code of ethics if you will. This is why the athiest believes he can live apart and do good without a belief in God….who gave him the moral code to begin with. The sinner who can also perform righteous acts under his own power can never explain how he knows to discern his evil from his good. He simply dismisses it as something in his upbringing or that he heard thru mass media.

      But since sin is condemning, the sinner must continually sear their conscious to escape Gods perfect mechanism to guide us to do the right things. He must continually try to escape God and thus the revulsion he/she feels when confronted by Godly standards and the reality that God is God who has a punishment for the unrepentant. This is why people fight and kill Christians/Jews! They reveal the God of wrath to them. This is unacceptable!

      Report Post » ChiefGeorge  
    • G-WHIZ
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 12:08pm

      I read a story, a few days ago, that “Christians were being STONED…and it was in MICHIGAN-U.S.A.”! Where do you get-off not-reading the news? Oh! You only read what the MSM tells you to, or what Obama-A-kisser commands you to! Big mind(open-space)…tiney storage-space-used, doors to remaining space…RUSTED-SHUT!

      Report Post »  
    • Tom K
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 4:29pm

      @ MOMRULES : The early Christians had to hide to preach another day. Liberals say they are tolerant but they lie: they have an agenda and God is NOT included. Pray for America.

      Report Post »  
    • From Virginia
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 7:18pm

      @Momrules – Yes – It’s happening everywhere. I’ve been fired from a job for being a Christian – I even heard my boss laugh with her cohorts that she was practicing religious persecution.

      @Weremoose – Did you know that in China 10,000 people a day are turning to Christianity. 10,000 a day! That is indeed a blessing. I’m very happy for them.

      As for YOU Encinom – This country was created BY us FOR us. And as long as we held to those truths this nation was blessed. Now that we have turned our back on God, HE has turned His back on us and we are now seeing the fruits of that.

      People like you who sneer at us. People like you who wish to marginalize us – WE the only producers you even HAVE in this country. People like YOU who want to round us up and strip us of our humanity. You have done it before and you WILL do it again.

      Report Post »  
  • vaman
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 8:54am

    She was not targeted for her beliefs as the article insinuates. She was given certain tasks to accomplish and she CHOSE not to do them because of her beliefs. Where she becomes a real threat is if she becomes a counselor and some unknowing person walks in for help and she uses her religious beliefs to guide them down a explicitly wrong road. The really interesting part about this story is the school. This is not some ultra liberal west coast school. In the heart of Georgia this happened! Be a christian, but understand your religion ends when it negatively affect someone else. In this case, she would do far more damage than good. Good for the court.

    Report Post »  
    • symphonic
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 9:06am

      No, homosexuals are doing far more damage than good. I can not imagine being required to attend and support a gay pride event. Its an unconstitutional requirement, against 1st Amendment. There shall be no infringement on the free exercise of religion. A counselor does not need to become a secularist to get the job. That would VIOLATE the 1st Amendment right, and is a tyranny of tolerance to require it. In short, you are ignorant of the supreme law of the land.

      Report Post » symphonic  
    • Joe Palooka
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 9:13am

      She was ordered to do certain tasks. Why? Can’t those who ordered her to do these things be “tolerant” and neutral and understanding and all the other crap too? She was right to say no.

      Report Post »  
    • sawbuck
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 9:13am

      VAMAN
      Be a christian, but understand your religion ends when it negatively affect
      someone else. In this case, she would do far more damage than good.
      ~~~~~

      Yeah.. But don’t tell a liberal teacher to NOT inject liberal ideology while teaching..
      The same with Marxist Politicians.
      If you “ believe” like them ..You can negatively affect anyone you want.

      Report Post » sawbuck  
    • Locked
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 9:14am

      “Its an unconstitutional requirement, against 1st Amendment.”

      Apparently not, as the court ruled against her case.

      Report Post »  
    • indy1
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 9:30am

      You intolerant libs love to impose your beliefs on others. You must wear the ribbon!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Report Post »  
    • MeCpl13
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 9:31am

      So basically, you‘re saying if you’re a Christian, you therefore are barred from being a counselor unless you renounce your religion. In other words, you’re discriminated from a certain profession because of your religion. AND, you’re insinuating that being a Christian will hurt others. That’s completely illogical. If we broaden your brush, then counseling itself should simply be banned, because ANY person’s code of beliefs, personal ideologies, etc might influence them to counsel “incorrectly.” If I go to an atheist counselor, might their belief or lack thereof lead me down a path that might be worse for me and do me harm? Or what if my counselor has a certain political belief, it might lead me down a path of destruction. Or what if they are vegan, maybe they will give me advice that could potentially harm my health due to an imbalance? Etc. See how ridiculous this thing is? A person can be against homosexuality and still be a good counselor. This is simply discrimination based on religious beliefs, pure and simple.

      Report Post »  
    • ModerationIsBest
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:04am

      @MECPL13

      No, but if you’re going to be a credible therapist, you have to realize that maybe your book doesn’t have the answer to everything, and that you approach things with provable solutions instead of a book and belief system started 2,000 years ago.

      Look where this has lead us. You have scientists who are Christians, and while most of them aren’t insane, there are quite a few who can’t reconcile their beliefs with the way the world actually works. So what do they do? Say that their scientific evidence backs up the beliefs exposed in their books(which it doesn’t) and ignore the overwhelming evidence that is counter to it. When a scientific breakthrough counters their book, they reject it and then when that breakthrough gains numerous support, they eventually accept it and say, “well I mean my God is responsible for all things, so of course this fits in with my beliefs.”

      It’s a sick joke.

      If you want to practice a profession in the real world, and be taken seriously in the real world, you should actually try living in the real world and be able to personally hold to your religious belief, while also realizing that it’s just a belief and nothing that has been proven factual by evidence.

      Report Post »  
    • NJBarFly
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:06am

      If you work somewhere, you should be expected to carry out the job to the employers standards. If you are a Muslim working in a super market, you can‘t say that you won’t check out pork products. If you are a Jehovah’s witness, you shouldn’t be allowed to work in an emergency room if you refuse to give a patient blood transfusions. If you won’t give out certain medications, then don’t work in a pharmacy that dispenses those meds.

      If you can’t do your job, work somewhere else. Allowing individuals to pick and choose what they want to do in a job based on personal feelings is a dangerous road to go down.

      Report Post » NJBarFly  
    • BeingThere
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:11am

      So she wants to be a counselor, just put up a sign that says “Homosexuals, go elsewhere, have a nice day!” Problem solved.

      Report Post » BeingThere  
    • HowardSternIsABigot
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:15am

      She cant use her beliefs but the few dictators at the ga school can enforce their “beliefs”. Its only by political dictum the standards for deviance have been changed. If you cant solve a problem for someone you pat them on the head and say, oh you are so cute and gay. go on home and do whatever you want, its okaaaaay.. aaaaaaaah hes so cute trying to stick it in the wrong places, at least he wont reproduce hahahah ,, aaaaah youre so cute and gay,

      Report Post »  
    • NJBarFly
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:23am

      Howard – “but the few dictators at the ga school can enforce their “beliefs”.

      Yes, they can. It is their school and she is attending it. You are expected to live up to the standards of the establishment you are attending. If she went to a school like Liberty University, there would be a different set of standards. There’s no shortage of Christian colleges out there. She needs to pick and choose where she wants to receive her education.

      Report Post » NJBarFly  
    • HowardSternIsABigot
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:38am

      NJ it is a state school, discriminating against the beliefs of a student is generally the approach, not vice versa. Of course not every church is equal now. My real point however is that the prohomosexual position is not scientific , its political or religious issue otherwise i agree she should find a better school. no problem with that. problem is state tax money being used to violate a citizens beliefs.

      Report Post »  
    • Dano.50
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 11:01am

      And “required” means something the whole class attends, and then future classes will required to attend.

      Report Post »  
    • davecorkery
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 11:38am

      100% in agreement. NO ONE is being forced to go to a gay pride parade.It’s a free country. If you don’t want to follow the rules and practices of your chosen profession, CHOOSE ANOTHER PROFESSION! Or, get more involved in your religion, and spread the hate so wide that everyone sees it.

      Report Post »  
    • anomnomnommm
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 12:05pm

      @symphonic
      “No, homosexuals are doing far more damage than good.”
      Explain?

      Report Post »  
    • MRMANN
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 12:16pm

      a slippery slope

      Report Post »  
  • guz75
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 8:50am

    Well she’s just discovered one of the first major lessons of becoming an adult; we can’t always pick and chose the things we want to do. If you choose to train in certain professions you have to accept the things that come with it, if you can’t set your own values and ideals to one side then you need to look elsewhere. I studied psychology and followed onto a course training to work with prisoners that were coming up for release, helping to prepare them and working to find opportunities for them on release. If at the training stage I had said that I refused to work with sex offenders I’d have rightly been removed from the course. During my time doing the work I dealt with people that had done things I naturally found abhorrent, but it was my job to treat them all the same. As I say it’s a matter of being a grown up and figuring out for herself what effect here personal values will have on her professional life.

    Report Post »  
    • symphonic
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 9:07am

      The profession is CORRUPTED, then.

      Report Post » symphonic  
    • stage9
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 9:09am

      Nonsense! You CAN INDEED “pick and choose”. And she did. She took a stand for moral righteousness over moral insanity.

      Report Post » stage9  
    • kentatwater
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 9:17am

      Except that’s not what happened. This should be plainly evident from the punishments which were prescribed. She refused to be indoctrinated into a worldview which validates behavior a person of her faith finds abhorrent. Unfortunately, the First Amendment door only swings one way nowadays. If only the same could be said for many of those who hold believers’ educational futures in their hands.

      Report Post »  
    • guz75
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 9:32am

      You’ve merely confirmed what I was saying, she made her choice regarding her own moral standpoint (which I’m not criticising) and as a result is unable to finish the course. As I said in my original comment, I worked with people that didn‘t exactly fit in with my sense of ’moral righteousness’, but my job wasn’t to judge them, I was employed to prepare them for release. If I‘d felt I couldn’t deal with certain individuals impartially based on my own values I would’ve found other work.

      Report Post »  
    • Tigress1
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 9:41am

      She was guilty of not feeding back the B.S. to her teachers. Looking back at all my old Sociology books I realize that the students of that subject were being brainwashed with Marxism. I HATED what I was being taught, but I aced the subjects and regurgitated it back to the Progressive teachers. Once you get your degree, you can do whatever you want.

      Report Post » Tigress1  
    • HowardSternIsABigot
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:50am

      thats not a grown up reaction. Thats like the nazis just following orders, arbeit mach zu frei. So youu go to school to be a professional, know your craft well, then just take a job and do as your told whether you think its right or not.? not very professional. almost less than a full human being in the scheme of things.

      Report Post »  
    • makamae
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 11:06am

      One‘s personal values don’t obviate the ability to do the job, especially in a field as ethereal as Psychology & Counseling. There are no hard and fast rules. These aren’t mathemeticians. They aren’t even climatologists! Prevailing theories about the “right” approach to dealing with issues abound and are as diverse as they can possibly be.

      On top of that, there are MANY successful Christian counselors and psychologists. The school in this case, as well as the judge, chose their own bias over the religious freedom rights of this girl.

      Report Post » makamae  
    • sputnik
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 2:33pm

      @Guz75

      Wow you must have had horrible supervisors if they would have removed you or another trainee from a course when they express limits. You support subjecting people who had been abused to retraumatization by being forced to treat predators? Think you might need some more ethics CE’s.

      Report Post » sputnik  
    • anomnomnommm
      Posted on June 30, 2012 at 11:21pm

      “She refused to be indoctrinated into a worldview which validates behavior a person of her faith finds abhorrent.”

      Statements like this just reaffirm my beliefs that as a race we are in for it. When you see the act of learning a technical profession that affects people’s health is “indoctrination into a worldview”, that is a major problem for the progress of society at large. I hope to God you are not a doctor, lawyer, engineer, teacher, etc.

      Report Post »  
  • blanco5
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 8:47am

    Yay……deviant lifestyles reign supreme once again……

    Report Post »  
  • JUSTANOTHEROPINION
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 8:44am

    Yet another attack on religion. America is failing because it has allowed it’s moral values to be eroded.

    Report Post »  
    • From Virginia
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 8:53pm

      Wed haven’t exactly ALLOWED it. But we HAVE put people into positions of power who put OTHER people into positions of power (judges) that have ruled against us for the last 40 years. Every time we get one of ours in THEY call them activists because their deviancy is now the norm. Anything that strays from the new “norm” is now diviant. Morals, chastity, fidelity – are ALL now considered deviant.

      Report Post »  
  • Bruce P.
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 8:43am

    There are some interesting passages in the original article. While the Blaze says that it is unclear what she said that provoked the expulsion, the original article is more explicit…

    “School administrators demanded Jennifer Keeton complete a remediation plan to correct her views on working with homosexual clients. When she refused, they kicked her out of the program.”

    “School administrators claimed Keeton said it would be hard for her to counsel gay clients, a stance they said violated ethical standards for licensed counselors, as put forth by the American Counseling Association.”

    It is not that Keeton was expelled for her personal beliefs, but that those beliefs interfered with her professional conduct. Regardless of her personal views, she is supposed to treat all clients equally. She, however, refused.

    She was not targeted for her religious views. She was targeted for her professional conduct.

    “Hall ruled that the counseling program’s policies, taken from the ACA and the American School Counselor Association Ethical Standards, clearly stated that counselors must not impose their own values on their clients. Because they did not single out any particular belief, the policies were “viewpoint neutral,” Hall ruled.”

    I

    Report Post » Bruce P.  
    • stage9
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 8:55am

      That is NOT WHAT SHE SAID! It wasn‘t that she wasn’t sure she would be able to counsel gay clients. That is a LIE! She said she would not be able to AFFIRM GAY CLIENTS in their lifestyle! THAT IS WHAT SHE WAS SAYING!

      Report Post » stage9  
    • Hobbs57
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 9:01am

      This wouldn’t happen to be Bruce Peck from Pittsburgh would it ??

      Report Post » Hobbs57  
    • SLOWBIDEN
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 9:29am

      If the other students were addicted to child porn she could decide not to affirm thier lifestyles either. Deviant behavior is deviant behavior.

      Report Post »  
    • BloodSweatandTears
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 9:36am

      The policies were neutral? Sure, as seen through a secular prism, a prism which removes religious opinion/persuasion. Either way, how then is it possible to be neutral?

      Report Post »  
    • Conservative-Atheist
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 11:21am

      SLOWBIDEN

      If the other students were addicted to child porn she could decide not to affirm thier lifestyles either. Deviant behavior is deviant behavior

      Nonsense! Child porn is illegal, being gay is not, although if most people here had it their way, it would be.

      Report Post » Conservative-Atheist  
    • Bruce P.
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 11:40am

      STAGE — can you please source that claim?

      Report Post » Bruce P.  
    • Bruce P.
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 11:42am

      SLOWBIDEN — Child porn is a criminal activity and she would be obligated, by law, to report it.

      Report Post » Bruce P.  
    • makamae
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 1:06pm

      Conservative Atheist – one could argue (and some actually do) that child pornography should be legal & that it’s just a lifestyle choice. In fact, the sickos at NAMBLA would argue that sex with minors is just the same as homosexuality.

      The bottom line in this argument is that these are both choices that society as a whole makes. That’s how the legality is determined. The fact that many wrongly say that homosexuality is innate doesn‘t change this girl’s rights.

      Report Post » makamae  
    • SLOWBIDEN
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 3:33pm

      Her right to practice her religion is being infringed upon.

      Report Post »  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 8:39am

    Blatant discrimination on the schools and courts part against a Christian; the simple matter is we are seeing more and more of the persecution of faith by the administration against those who may dare to disagree with Obama and his collective madness.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • Bruce P.
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 8:45am

      Her religious beliefs interfered with her professional conduct. The ACA requires neutrality. She refused neutrality.

      Report Post » Bruce P.  
    • Republic_of_Texas
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 8:46am

      “You will be hated by all because of My name, but the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.” Mark 13:13.

      Report Post » Republic_of_Texas  
    • Plan B
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 8:54am

      I feel like I woke up in a foreign country and don’t know how I got here and have no idea how to get back.

      Report Post »  
    • klg1956
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 12:06pm

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqoJ6GrHZFA

      Prophetic!

      Report Post »  
    • sputnik
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 1:16pm

      @Bruce.p

      Wrong. The ACA requires neutrality when working with clients who have different belief system. It is ethical according to ACA and APA (American Psychological Association) standards to refer clients to other clinicians when issues are outside the area of clinician’s expertise (it’s actually unethical not to do so). In this case she could well argue those issues are outside her expertise due to an inability for neutrality.

      Report Post » sputnik  
    • themachinist239
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 4:33pm

      @ Sputnik:

      “Wrong. The ACA requires neutrality when working with clients who have different belief system. It is ethical according to ACA and APA (American Psychological Association) standards to refer clients to other clinicians when issues are outside the area of clinician’s expertise (it’s actually unethical not to do so). In this case she could well argue those issues are outside her expertise due to an inability for neutrality.”

      —There is no “expertise” standard required to treat gay people because that would imply that every other psychologist has received ‘special training’ of some sort to handle counselling gay people. No such course exists nor should it, because it would only reinforce one’s religious beliefs and would have no basis in psychological science.

      Report Post »  
    • sputnik
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 5:01pm

      @THEMACHINIST239

      I don’t know where you are getting your information. Not only does it exist – it is a required course taught in all accredited counseling degrees (psychology/social work/clinical mental health). You might not see it because it does not go by the name, “how to do counseling with LGBT clients.” However, pick up any MULTICULTURAL counseling/therapy textbook and you will find chapters on LGBTQQ-ect. It doesn‘t matter for client’s race, age, sexual orientation, political orientation, religion, SES, mental health conditions, psychopathic behaviors, attitude, ect. ect. ect. if the therapist is not competent in treating that individual for whatever reason (e.g. imposing personal beliefs) then it is UNETHICAL for that therapist to treat the client and the client should be referred out to another psychotherapist. That is stated in ACA, APA, and (most likely) social work code of ethics.

      Report Post » sputnik  
  • Geopatriot
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 8:39am

    Perhaps the University staff should be the ones to get sensitivity training!

    Report Post »  
  • glockman641
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 8:37am

    another sad day in america when the right to free speech is only reserved for certain groups. anybody,except straight whites, can say what they want. they can burn flags, and threaten to kill people(the new black panthers) and all is well. but when a straight white person states his/her beliefs its the uproar of the year. regardless of the stance, we are all americans and we all have the right to free speech. the fact that a student dislikes homosexual lifestyle is just an opinion. shes not stopping them or prohibiting them in any way. she just disagrees with them. and far as saying that she couldnt be open minded as a counselor doesnt hold water. i think that the fact that she is a christian, she would be more sympathetic to everyone. imagine a homosexual counselor and a straight patient. what if the patient started expressing opinions that the counselor didnt agree with, then he wouldnt or couldnt be open minded cause hes a homosexual. you cant have it both ways(obviously) but then again you only like it when its suits your agendas.

    Report Post »  
  • bertr
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 8:35am

    you can donate to the ADF here https://www.alliancedefensefund.org/Donate
    it doesnt appear you can specify for it to go to this case unfortunatly

    Report Post » bertr  
  • sawbuck
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 8:29am

    We are a nation of hypocrites..!

    ~~~~~~~

    The Unborn Victims of Violence Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-212) is a United States law which recognizes a “child in utero” as a legal victim, if he or she is injured or killed during the commission of any of over 60 listed federal crimes of violence. The law defines “child in utero” as “a member of the species **** sapiens, at any stage of development, who is carried in the womb”.

    Report Post » sawbuck  
    • stage9
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 8:50am

      This is hilarious! Judges as philosophers!

      “Keeton’s speech and conduct were evidently impelled by the absolutist philosophical character of her beliefs….”

      I see, so should she be compelled by the “absolutist philosophical character of her beliefs” if a future client wants to off himself or someone else? Should she, or should she NOT have an “absolutist philosophical” belief about such things? And does the university have an opinion on THIS matter as well?

      It seems to me, in this day and age of convoluted reason and twisted morals, that fools get to impose the measure of their foolishness while the morally sane and intellectually honest are brushed aside.

      I would tell Augusta State to suck it and then re-enroll in a REAL university whose principles encourage the burgeoning of free thought unfettered by imbecilic ethics. Don’t harlot yourself with these morally confused reprobates any longer.

      “She was expelled.” GOOD! They did you a favor! They will no longer be able to corrupt you and twist you into a mindless pretzel any longer. Too many young people are coming out of these incubators of imbecility with minds of mush…twisted and distorted by liberal head cases. Be thankful. You’ve been rid of their disease. You’re CURED! You’re FREE!

      Report Post » stage9  
  • ComradeAdam
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 8:27am

    Those that control the education control the beliefs that will be taught and practiced in the next generation. All opposition is weeded out and squashed.

    Report Post » ComradeAdam  
    • angeleyes63
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 8:52am

      @COMRADEADAM
      You are so right and the commies have a strangle hold on almost all forms of public and private education in America. It’s all part of the long march. We all need to be more vocal and stand up or there will be nothing left but ashes where the GREATEST COUNTRY IN HISTORY ONCE STOOD.

      Report Post »  
  • kickagrandma
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 8:26am

    LQTM~
    Good time to re-evaluate your life, your priorities, your “god/s” while you still can. Eternity is a long, long, long, forever-after time to live without good and without GOD.

    Report Post »  
    • ChiefGeorge
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 11:26am

      Amen! This will not last forever people!

      Man is going to the grave everyday! Some will spend eternity with the creator and others in utter despair knowing full well their guilt, actions, words and deeds done that put them there by their own hand…they will beg God for forgiveness but it will be too late. The test is now! In this life! The spiritual world created the physical world thus is the REAL World as humans might put it or try to explain it. It came first! Where will you spend eternity? Will you continue to prop up this world and your actions in it or will you change and believe? This is the answer!

      Report Post » ChiefGeorge  
  • Drahcir
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 8:23am

    Wake up folks, male homosexuality is a hygiene/disease issue ( lesbianism is mostly innocuous whille men who engage the craft threaten at-large society with deadly contagion )–so frame the issue thusly: Homosexuality is a FECES-EATING craft, which heterosexuals may avoid BECAUSE THEY POSSESS THE CORRECT/NATURAL EQUIPMENT.

    Report Post »  
  • billrow
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 8:19am

    If she had been muslim they would have caved in a millisecond.

    It’s really sad that Christian Americans have become second class citizens.

    Report Post »  
  • PingPongPing
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 8:15am

    she could have earned her degree ONLINE…

    Report Post » PingPongPing  
  • Zod Cranards
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 8:13am

    LQTM–no actually you are the moron. It’s foos like you who are ruining America.

    Report Post » Zod Cranards  
  • EqualJustice
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 8:11am

    Too bad she’s not Mulsim.. CAIR would have won that suit!

    Report Post » EqualJustice  
    • ScienceIsNotEvil
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 8:44am

      And most of the blaze posters would have been in a rage if this was another religion trying to impose their beliefs via the court.

      Why is it so hard for most of you people to be consistent?

      Report Post »  
    • kentatwater
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 9:21am

      Straw man. She was not forcing her beliefs on anyone. On the contrary, she was the one being given the choice between participating in activities she found abhorrent, or being expelled.

      Report Post »  
    • Bruce P.
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 12:01pm

      KENTAWATERS — no, she was not being told to participate in activities she found abhorrent. The article is explicit: “School administrators claimed Keeton said it would be hard for her to counsel gay clients…”

      She ADMITS she could not be professional in regards to clients based on who the clients are. She was not being asked to participate in their lifestyle or even agree with it. She was being asked to treat them as she would any other patient. She, once again, ADMITTED she did not know if she could do that.

      That is a huge problem. And potentially dangerous. The counselor is often a person’s port of last resort, going when they have hit the absolute rock-bottom and know they need professional help. The therapist is to be a neutral and objective source for the patient to voice their trouble and find solutions. In the patient-therapist relationship, there is a great deal of trust and authority vested by the patient into their counselor. There is a potential for great harm if the therapist uses that trust and authority to subject the patient to their personal, not professional, opinion. It becomes an adversarial relationship, but because of the trust invested in the counselor, the patient may not be able to recognize it as such, thus leaving them worse off.

      Report Post » Bruce P.  
  • Touchy Touchy Touchy
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 8:08am

    She deserved to be thrown out. No one with that much of a closed mind should be studying conseling.

    Report Post »  
    • Joe Palooka
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 9:11am

      God bless her and people like you can go to hell. How’s that for tolerance? No, she is entitled to her “choice” and I am entitled to agree with her. If the Founding Fathers had remained “neutral” we wouldn’t have a country for imbeciles and degenerates/perverts to complain about.

      Report Post »  
    • sputnik
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 1:45pm

      @Touchy

      It has nothing to do with being open or close minded, and has everything to do with neutrality. There would be no counselors if they were required to have no opinions on anything. e.g if a Atheist clinician could not be neutral with a religious client, instead of getting rid of the atheist (“close minded”) clinician, the client should be referred to another clinician who could be neutral.

      Report Post » sputnik  
  • lgccac
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 8:05am

    Some day when you stand before Jesus, feel free to express your views.

    Report Post »  
  • lgccac
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 8:04am

    Homosexuality is a sin and an abomination to God. That is a fact. No amount of opinion can change that.

    Report Post »  
    • vaman
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 9:02am

      We can all find silly things in the bible to quote or elude to. How about this gem…

      “A marriage shall be considered valid only if the wife is a virgin. It the wife is not a virgin, she shall be executed.” Deuternomy 22:13-21
      That is a fact. No amount of opinion can change that.

      Report Post »  
    • Oldphoto678
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 9:11am

      “Homosexuality is a sin and an abomination to God.”

      Well, I say that’s just your opinion, and no amount of poinion can change that fact.

      AND….Remember this…. Your opinion is worth almost as much as it cost. Zeeerrrooo!!!

      Report Post »  
    • Hanner
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 9:55am

      @vaman–
      Deautoronomy 22 v13-21- refers to a woman lying about her virginity. Not about virgin-only marriage.
      I Corinthians 7:39– teaches that a widow can remarry…thus nullifying your ignorance of the bible and the true meaning of scripture.

      Report Post »  
    • BelindaB
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:02am

      Agreed!

      Report Post »  
    • ltemp
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:05am

      Vaman,
      You cannot take one text out of the bible and apply it to your liking. You also take this verse out of its original context. You justify yours and others ignorance of scripture to excuse the favor of sins. You say that there are silly things in the bible and I say there are silly things in your head.

      Report Post » ltemp  
  • Dont_eat_me_bro
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 7:58am

    I wonder if the college would make you attend a nambla meeting if you voiced disgust for child molestation…
    Don’t let gay activists run the show – they are not a “race”, just a bunch of people who prefer sex a certain way.

    Report Post » Dont_eat_me_bro  
    • Conservative-Atheist
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 11:39am

      Yet another clownish comment equating what two consenting adults do with each other with child molestation. How about saying something that’s not ridiculous.

      Report Post » Conservative-Atheist  
    • savant
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 12:32pm

      Conservative Atheist it is OK if you are gay it is normal to have things jammed into your rectum, after all dogs do it right.

      Report Post »  
    • Bruce P.
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 12:40pm

      A university would not have one attend a NAMBLA meeting because pedophilia is considered a mental disease and it is illegal.

      Report Post » Bruce P.  
    • Conservative-Atheist
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 1:30pm

      savant
      Conservative Atheist it is OK if you are gay it is normal to have things jammed into your rectum, after all dogs do it right.

      Well, in my mind, if 2 guys want to have sex with each other, it’s no business of mine and it has no effect on my life. Actually, if anything, it has a positive effect. That’s 2 less guys competing for the pool of ladies out there….more for me. :o)

      P.S. It’s pretty normal for dogs to eat feces, don’t think we should judge human behavior on what dogs do.

      Report Post » Conservative-Atheist  
    • sputnik
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 1:51pm

      @Bruce.P

      “A university would not have one attend a NAMBLA meeting because pedophilia is considered a mental disease and it is illegal.”

      Cocaine Dependence is considered a mental illness and cocaine use is illegal, yet I doubt any school would have a problem requiring a student to attend a Narcotics Anonymous meeting.

      Report Post » sputnik  
    • Verceofreason
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 11:07pm

      Any clinic that hired this loon would simply be opening themselves up to lawsuits a plenty.
      She needs to find another profession.
      Why did she ever waste her parents money?

      Report Post » Verceofreason  
  • unsafe
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 7:57am

    Just face it us normal americans are F-ED.

    Report Post »  
  • pma_guy
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 7:56am

    This case has huge trickle down implications across America. Do we have the right to say ANYTHING anymore? As for me, I will continue to talk about how sodomy ruins peoples lives. There is a higher law.

    Report Post » pma_guy  
    • lqtm
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 8:05am

      Actually that isn’t how our legal system works. Nice try though guy. -Lawyer

      Report Post »  
    • Locked
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 8:10am

      No offense to the young lady, but if she disagreed with the program and refused to follow it, why should she have been allowed to remain in it? I’m sure there are plenty of other programs in other universities that would align better with her views; this one did not, but it was -her choice- to pick it.

      I don’t have much sympathy for someone who refused to follow the course protocol and demanded to graduate anyway. If you went to a math class and refused to have anything to do with imaginary numbers, should you be allowed to graduate the class?

      Report Post »  
    • bertr
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 8:40am

      So LQTM and LOCKED, you would also support a Catholic University not allowing homosexual students to graduate?
      If so, then that’s consistant and you have a valid point.

      Report Post » bertr  
    • Locked
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 8:53am

      @Bertr

      “So LQTM and LOCKED, you would also support a Catholic University not allowing homosexual students to graduate?”

      If it was in the student policy that being attracted to the same sex was forbidden at the school, yes. I can’t imagine it would be part of an academic program like this situation is, though. What class did they fail? “I will not look at other men for longer than 2 seconds 101”?

      In the same vein as your question, I don’t get upset when I read about Brigham Young University students get kicked out for pre-marital sex or drinking; I think they’re moronic for joining a university and knowingly breaking the rules.

      That’s not the situation here, but yes, if it’s a private university, they set the rules. But at a private OR public university, if you refuse to follow the curriculum, why should a student graduate?

      Report Post »  
    • KyleD
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 12:47pm

      @Locked – You say a student should follow the curriculum but was this in the curriculum? Is there a rule somewhere that says you can’t be christian?

      Besides, this and Brigham Young University is a completely different situation. At BYU the rules are laid out explicitly and it only dismisses students who ACT on their beliefs, not only those who have beliefs. Have you seen those videos from gay BYU students? It’s completely against BYU policy to have homosexual relations (or premarital relations of any kind) but they’re perfectly capable of saying they believe in whatever they believe. This Georgia Augusta school dismissed this woman for her belief and nothing more…and I doubt this policy of there’s is written anywhere.

      Report Post »  
    • Locked
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 1:02pm

      @Kyled

      “You say a student should follow the curriculum but was this in the curriculum? Is there a rule somewhere that says you can’t be christian?”

      Did the faculty say she couldn’t be Christian? I think you’re making that up, as it‘s clearly spelled out that her religion wasn’ the problem; refusing to follow the curriculum (ie, treating gay patients by telling them they’re sinning and trying conversion therapy) was the original issue. Note also that she agreed to the conditions to remain, then changed her mind.

      This girl wanted to pass her classes without following course materials. Doesn’t work that way.

      Report Post »  
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