Attorney General opens civil rights investigation into Seattle Pacific University

SEATTLE – Lawyer Common Bob Ferguson on Friday introduced a civil rights investigation into Seattle Pacific College for refusing to rent LGBTQ+ school and employees.

Months in the past college students and employees staged a sit-in for a few week calling for the removing of the college’s board of trustees.

The college filed a federal lawsuit making an attempt to dam the investigation.

Ferguson launched the next assertion on Friday, saying that his workplace has heard from “quite a few” college students, school and others filed complaints in opposition to SPU:

“Seattle Pacific College admits that it refuses to rent homosexual school and employees,” Ferguson mentioned. “In Might, Seattle Pacific College college students and employees staged a sit-in and known as for the removing of the College’s board of trustees after they voted to maintain in place faculty insurance policies that prohibit staff from participating in ‘same-sex sexual exercise.’ Quite a few Seattle Pacific College college students, school, and others reached out to my workplace to file complaints or in any other case categorical deep concern that the College administration’s insurance policies illegally violate Washingtonians’ civil rights.

“My workplace respects the spiritual views of all Washingtonians and the constitutional rights afforded to spiritual establishments. As an individual of religion, I share that view. My workplace didn’t prejudge whether or not Seattle Pacific College’s employment insurance policies or its actions are unlawful. We responded to the complaints from involved Washingtonians by sending the College a letter. The letter requested 4 questions. The letter additionally invited the College to offer any further info that it needed my workplace to contemplate.

“We didn’t publicize the letter, nor did we announce our investigation. In response to our inquiry, Seattle Pacific College filed a federal lawsuit. The lawsuit demonstrates that the College believes it’s above the legislation to such a rare diploma that it’s shielded from answering fundamental questions from my workplace concerning the College’s compliance with state legislation.”

Ferguson’s workplace is now asking for anybody who might have been discriminated by the college to return ahead.

“Anybody who believes they have been topic to attainable employment discrimination by Seattle Pacific College ought to contact my civil rights crew at civilrights@atg.wa.gov,” Ferguson mentioned.

Again in June, numerous graduating seniors took the stage and handed interim president Pete Menjares a Delight flag, and a few refused to shake his hand.

A loop of roughly a dozen college students participating unfold like wildfire on the web, resulting in nationwide headlines.

SPU has beforehand launched a FAQ part about their choice, because the controversy has grown.

LGBTQ college students, allies go viral with act of defiance at SPU commencement

The flags have been simply the most recent motion. Whereas seniors walked, underclassmen continued a sit-in that began in late Could exterior of Menjares’ workplace. College students marched via campus and took over the house inside Demaray Corridor following the varsity’s board of trustees’ vote to re-affirm a coverage that bans the college from hiring LGBTQIA+ staff.

An “Worker Life-style Expectations” coverage was voted on in late Might. Nonetheless, the combat over banning same-sex staff stretches additional again.

Jeaux Rinedahl sued the varsity in 2021, accusing SPU of rejecting his software for a full-time tenured job as a result of he’s homosexual. Rinedahl, who was an adjunct nursing professor, has since settled out of courtroom.