Civil Rights

Students protest would-be law school's relationship policy

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A Canadian university’s plan to establish a law school has drawn fire from students at other institutions.

They contend that the covenant at Trinity Western University, which requires students at the private Christian school to abstain from “sexual intimacy that violates the sacredness of marriage between a man and a woman,” is discriminatory toward lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students, Canadian Lawyer’s Legal Feeds Blog reports.

Among those urging the Federation of Law Societies of Canada to to take the issue into consideration concerning the planned law school is Douglas Judson, a second-year student at Osgoode Hall Law School who is pursuing a joint juris doctor and master’s of business administration degree.

“It’s very clear in this policy that LGBTQ individuals are not welcome at Trinity Western University,” says Judson, who co-chairs the Osgoode OUTlaws student group.“The policy directly targets LGBTQ individuals and we think that the type of environment that creates for legal study is not necessarily suitable for inspiring young lawyers.”

Objectors have also said the policy interferes with legal education by making it difficult for students to question the status quo in class.

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