<mediadc-video-embed data-state="{"cms.site.owner":{"_ref":"00000161-3486-d333-a9e9-76c6fbf30000","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b93390000"},"cms.content.publishDate":1666627224967,"cms.content.publishUser":{"_ref":"00000177-1b39-d2c7-af7f-5fbf13ff0004","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b933a0007"},"cms.content.updateDate":1666627224967,"cms.content.updateUser":{"_ref":"00000177-1b39-d2c7-af7f-5fbf13ff0004","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b933a0007"},"rawHtml":"
var _bp = _bp||[]; _bp.push({ "div": "Brid_66627220", "obj": {"id":"27789","width":"16","height":"9","video":"1102618"} }); ","_id":"00000184-0ab8-d2c9-a9e6-bab81b380000","_type":"2f5a8339-a89a-3738-9cd2-3ddf0c8da574"}”>Video EmbedYeshiva University in New York will formulate a new LGBT student club on its campus while a lawsuit challenging the orthodox Jewish school’s status as a “religious entity” plays out in lower courts.
The new student group is called Kol Yisrael Areivim and has been approved by leadership at the university as a way to support LGBT students within the Torah framework. The novel club was formed as an alternative to YU Pride Alliance, an unrecognized LGBT campus organization that has argued in court that the private university is not a religious entity under the state’s human rights laws and therefore should allow the club on campus.
YESHIVA UNIVERSITY AND LGBT CLUB TO NEGOTIATE COMPROMISE AFTER STUDENT CLUBS CANCELED
So far, lower courts have agreed with challengers against the school’s religious status, though the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty defending the school has argued the formation of the YU Pride Alliance club presented an “unprecedented intrusion” into the university’s sincere religious beliefs.
“The university has been in communication with its LGBTQ students for a number of months leading up to the lawsuit, looking to find a correct forum for LGBTQ students where they can support one another, where they can share experiences, where they can enjoy recreation together, where they can have events that support their mission,” Eric Baxter, vice president and senior counsel for Becket, said during a press call Monday.
The YU Pride Alliance said it would delay seeking recognition from the university after the institution canceled all student club activities and was considering eliminating all student organizations following a 5-4 Supreme Court ruling that declined to stay a lower court ruling requiring the school to recognize the club.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
As the court challenge continues, Yeshiva said it has maintained already existing support systems on campus for LGBT students, including policies such as sensitivity training for faculty, anti-harassment initiatives, and support groups for students who identify as part of the LGBT community.
The Washington Examiner contacted YU Pride Alliance for comment.
