Judge says Bible is rule of the land.

[Cartoonist]

Judge rules against elderly lesbians rejected from retirement home

Bev Nance, 68, and Mary Walsh, 72, were denied an apartment in Missouri’s Friendship Village because their marriage is not “understood in the Bible.”

https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/judge-rules-against-elderly-lesbians-rejected-retirement-home-n960211

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. That's not what the judge said.

The ruling was not that "the Bible is the rule of the land," but that federal law does not protect LGBT relationships in housing claims. Which is true, but obviously it shouldn't be. The couple brought their lawsuit on the basis of sex discrimination, which is protected by federal law, but the judge didn't accept that argument. The couple is going to appeal.

[Cartoonist]

2. Actions speak louder than words

He ruled using the Bible as his guide.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. Where in the judge's opinion does it say that?

[Cartoonist]

9. Who said this?

their marriage is not "understood in the Bible.”
_

I thought it was the judge. Article does not make it clear.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

10. The managers of the place the couple wanted to move to said that. Not the judge.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

8. There's nothing in the judge's opinion suggesting anything of the kind.

https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/4f/64fef240-d334-599c-929a-0fa6755a28f7/5c3fe3c00af81.pdf.pdf

And you assumed the judge was male. She isn't. But those unfortunate sexist assumptions still are made frequently, just like unfortunate assumptions are still made about LGBT people.

[Cartoonist]

11. I thought women were smarter

Thank you for pointing out that they can be just as dumb as men.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

13. She wasn't being dumb. She was following the law, which is her obligation.

The remedy is for Congress to amend the statute to include discrimination in housing to include LGBT people.

[Major Nikon]

14. There are those who aren't so sure that's the only remedy

There have been numerous legal attempts to argue laws against sexual discrimination must include sexual orientation. Some have been successful and some have not.

The current position of the EEOC is sexual orientation is included in laws that prohibit sexual discrimination in employment practices. While that isn't the same law that protects sexual discrimination in housing practices, it's not that much of a leap in jurisprudence.

Overview

EEOC interprets and enforces Title VII's prohibition of sex discrimination as forbidding any employment discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation. These protections apply regardless of any contrary state or local laws.

Through investigation, conciliation, and litigation of charges by individuals against private sector employers, as well as hearings and appeals for federal sector workers, the Commission has taken the position that existing sex discrimination provisions in Title VII protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) applicants and employees against employment bias. The Commission has obtained approximately $6.4 million in monetary relief for individuals, as well as numerous employer policy changes, in voluntary resolutions of LGBT discrimination charges under Title VII since data collection began in 2013. A growing number of court decisions have endorsed the Commission's interpretation of Title VII.

https://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/newsroom/wysk/enforcement_protections_lgbt_workers.cfm

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

15. It would be too much of a leap for a trial judge because it would be contrary to

controlling previous interpretations by the circuit court of appeals. Trial judges are pretty much stuck with the next level appellate court has decided (I once clerked for an appellate court and saw this dynamic just about every day). Maybe on appeal this couple can convince the Eight Circuit to change its mind.

[Major Nikon]

16. I'm not disputing that part

I'm just saying changing the law may not be the only remedy.

[SWBTATTReg]

3. Missouri continues its 'show me' attitude of hate and animosity towards all but old white men...

God, I hate this state where I live. I'm embarrassed and disgusted at the same time.

[RKP5637]

5. This is so damn absurd! Pulls the bible outta his ass and says this, FFS!!! n/t

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

20. The judge is a "she," not a "he,"

which is a common sexist assumption about judges. The judge also did not base her decision on the Bible or religious principles but on the particular statute relating to housing discrimination and on interpretations of that statute by the higher controlling court. https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/4f/64fef240-d334-599c-929a-0fa6755a28f7/5c3fe3c00af81.pdf.pdf

[RKP5637]

21. Thanks for the correction!!!

[AlexSFCA]

6. is that some sort of church affiliated religious housing?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

7. The judge's opinion is at the link.

https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/4f/64fef240-d334-599c-929a-0fa6755a28f7/5c3fe3c00af81.pdf.pdf Nowhere does it say the decision was based on the Bible. Instead, it is based on a specific federal statute and previous rulings by the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals interpreting that statute, which this trial judge was obligated to follow. The solution to this clearly unfair situation is to amend the statute, not bust on a judge for applying the Bible, which isn't what happened.

[uriel1972]

12. Gonna have to go with The Velveteen Ocelot on this one

Whether religion played a part in their judgement is debatable, if the Judge did not make a reference to it then they did not claim it was the law of the land.

While I despair at religious bigotry, without evidence it is tough to prove. Atheists can be as bigoted as Theists from experience.

[struggle4progress]

17. Our Mission

... Guided by Biblical principles that honor Jesus Christ, provide a loving, warm, gracious and secure environment where all experience physical, spiritual and emotional care ...

https://www.friendshipvillagestl.com/our-mission.html

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

18. I don't think *I'd* want to live there.

It sounds like it's full of the sort of smug, judgmental people I'd rather not hang out with. But that's not the point. They shouldn't be able to exclude people who do want to live there.

[struggle4progress]

19. I try to fight some battles I'm sure to win when I want to fight some I won't