Med school that banned gay group can't be cited by human rights commission

[Rose Siding]

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (AP) _ New York Medical College, which refused to sanction a gay student group, is exempt from Westchester County's anti-discrimination law because of its connection to the Roman Catholic Church, the Human Rights Commission has ruled.

The ruling means the school cannot be fined or ordered to recognize the student group.

Alison Greene, executive director of the commission, said it had received documents from the medical school proving its affiliation with the New York Archdiocese in 1978. The college was founded in 1860.

The tie means the commission does have not jurisdiction over the matter, Greene wrote in a letter to the college. She urged the college to rethink its decision anyway.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--gaygroupbanned0330mar30,0,202548.story?coll=ny-region-apnewyork

[Biology]

1. disagree

New York Medical College receives federal funding through NIH grants, and other federal sources. In doing so, they've filed documents stating that they do not discriminate, as is required by all Universities receiving federal grants. I imagine, however, that some of the lawyers in the group are aware of any loopholes that might lurk out there.

[mutus_frutex]

2. You are probably correct.

What I don't know is the following: is sexual orientation protected at the federal level?

Moreover, Do you think the NIH would try to enforce the non-discrimination clauses?

Cheers..

[foreigncorrespondent]

5. Ouch!

is sexual orientation protected at the federal level?

Oh that is a low blow!

[mutus_frutex]

8. I'm sorry but I don't quite understand your post..

I wasn't trying to be sarcastic. I'm a well informed foreigner living in this country. What happens is that I truly don't know what is the level of federal protection afforded to gays and lesbians. I know that some states do have those protections and I know there is nothing in the constitution. Since most universities have non-discrimination clauses regarding sexual orientation, I would suspect that the NIH also has them, but I've never seen them. I also wondered if in this homophobic climate they would be enforced by the federal government.

Anyway, could you elaborate a bit more your message? I'm truly interested in this human rights issue and any information would be welcome.

Cheers..

[Biology]

9. clarification

There are a variety of forms that have to be signed by any institution receiving federal funding.

The following is a link to one assurance form that must be signed, although it does not specifically say anything about "sexual orientation," which tends to be a newer buzzword than when these civil rights bills were written.


http://dhs.ca.gov/publications/forms/pdf/hhs690.pdf


<below is cut and pasted from NIH website. These are what the signed form represents>

Age Discrimination Act of 1975

The Age Discrimination Act of 1975 prohibits discrimination on the basis of age in any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. The HHS implementing regulations are codified at 45 CFR Part 91.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 provides that no person in the U.S. shall, on the grounds of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. The HHS implementing regulations are codified at 45 CFR Part 80.

Education Amendments of 1972

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 provides that no person in the U.S. shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. The HHS implementing regulations are codified at 45 CFR Part 86.

Rehabilitation Act of 1973

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, provides that no otherwise qualified handicapped individual in the United States shall, solely by reason of the handicap, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. These requirements pertain to the provision of benefits or services as well as to employment. The HHS implementing regulations are codified at 45 CFR Parts 84 and 85.

<end cut and paste>

[cosmicdot]

10. I'm with you

I tire of the thinking that certain people have to struggle through lifetimes of discrimination, and billions of dollars of litigation to prove that they are, indeed, citizens of this country; therefore, having the same inalienable rights conveyed to others the day they enter this world as Americans.

I tire of the thinking that institutions, businesses and such have personhood to discriminate ... which, in essence, gives special sovereignty rights over the Law of the Land, the Constitution.

Institutionalized discrimination is unconstitutional imo.

What is New York Medical College's problem with being American?

Can it pick and choose what other laws to follow?

It offers student applications for Federal Student Aid.

"More than $47 million in research and other programs sponsored by the National Institutes of Health and other sources are ongoing at the university." http://www.nymc.edu/resadmin/biotech/index.asp

Elsewhere on its website "It is the policy of New York Medical College to comply with all applicable local, State and Federal standards, codes and regulations, including but not exclusive to the following regulatory agencies: U.S. Departments of Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Health and Human Services – Centers for Disease Control, and Agriculture; N.Y.S. Departments of Labor, Health, State (building code and fire protection), and Environmental Conservation; local Fire Departments."


Does it pay taxes?

If tax-exempt, why? A Federal IRS regulation?

[Dave Reynolds]

3. I would bet

that the college administration had the laws checked and found loopholes big enough to drive a bus through.

[megatherium]

4. The Roman Catholic Church has labeled homosexuality

as objectively disordered. Pseudo-medical terminology to obscure the fact that the major medical groups have long since declared homosexuality to be a normal, healthy human sexual variation: they have no medical reason to justify discrimination against gay people. I'm not a Catholic-basher (I'm Episcopalian, actually), but this is terribly discouraging.

[Rose Siding]

6. I wonder how this medical school teaches women's health

and what influence the Catholic church might have on that.

[obxhead]

7. Better know who the DR's are coming out of this school

Ya probably don't want a tune up from them.