One thing that I find particularly interesting about this case, is that (according to the Complaint) the school district's policy expressly discriminates on the basis of sexual orientation (and arguably gender). It provides benefits to "domestic partners" who can provide certain documentation. For example, the plaintiffs would qualify because they own a home together, have joint credit accounts, executed mutually beneficial wills, etc. Except the plaintiffs don't qualify because the policy expressly provides that "Domestic partners cannot be the same gender."
Thus, the District can't argue that it is depending on state marriage laws (same-sex marriage is not allowed in Pennsylvania currently). To the extent it attempts to justify the policy on the basis of fraud prevention, the extensive documentation requirements at least weaken that argument. It will be interesting to see the District's Answer and arguments.
The Plaintiffs raise four claims:
- Sexual orientation discrimination in violation of the U.S. Constitution's Equal Protection Clause (14th Amendment);
- Sex discrimination in violation of the U.S. Constitution's Equal Protection Clause (14th Amendment);
- Violation of the Pennsylvania Constitution's Equal Rights Amendment (Art. I, s. 28, commonly called "PERA"); and
- Violation of the right to intimate association (U.S. Const. 1st Amendment, incorporated via the 14th Amendment).
It will be interesting to see how this thing plays out...
Side-note: I attended SCASD schools for grades 1-12 and my child (coming in August, if you haven't heard) will likely attend as well. SCASD was also involved in a noteworthy 1st Amendment case from the Third Circuit, with an opinion authored by now-Justice Alito: Saxe v. SCASD.
Posted by Philip Miles, an attorney with McQuaide Blasko in State College, Pennsylvania in the firm's civil litigation and labor and employment law practice groups.
Do you think that either of the parties will have Romans 1:26 in their brief?
ReplyDeleteWhat is SCASD?
ReplyDeleteSCASD=State College Area School District (in Centre County, PA). I don't see bible quotes in the future of this litigation. I'm working on a new post right now, but it looks like the school is arguing that it is bound by a collective bargaining agreement and will take up the issue next negotiation.
ReplyDelete