Court: OK to require LGBT training for counselor

"A three-judge panel of the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled this month that a university could require a student seeking a degree in counseling, as part of her curriculum, to take courses on how to work with LGBT populations. The student had objected, saying such courses violated her religious beliefs

 

"The case, Keeton v. Anderson-Wiley, was brought by Jennifer Keeton, who said that the Augusta State University’s requirement that she take LGBT counseling coursework violated her First Amendment right to free speech and free exercise of religion...

 

"Lambda Legal Defense, which filed a brief in the case in support of the university’s position, applauded the decision.

 

"'Augusta State University had legitimate concerns to require Ms. Keeton to complete a remediation program after expressing her desire to subject LGBTQ youth to dangerous conversion therapy,' said Greg Nevins, supervising attorney in Lambda’s Atlanta office. 'If a counselor cannot respect the dignity and promote the welfare of her LGBTQ clients and uphold the American Counseling Association Code of Ethics, she is not a competent counselor.'"

 

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