MICHIGAN: House Passes Bill Legalizing Anti-Gay Actions By Student Counselors

The GOP-dominated Michigan House has approved a bill making it legal for student counselors and therapists to refuse LGBT clients based on religious objections. The bill is named for Julea Ward, the Michigan student who was refused graduation when she rejected a gay client because her Christian beliefs did not allow her to treat "immoral persons." The bill reads:

A public degree or certificate granting college, university, junior college, or community college of this state shall not discipline or discriminate against a student in a counseling, social work, or psychology program because the student refuses to counsel or serve a client as to goals, outcomes, or behaviors that conflict with a sincerely held religious belief of the student, if the student refers the client to a counselor who will provide the counseling or services.

RELATED: In January of this year Ward won the right to sue her former school. She is being represented by the Alliance Defense Fund and the case is still pending.