Iowa church files transgender bathroom directive lawsuit against Civil Rights Commission
A church in Fort Des Moines has filed a lawsuit against the Iowa Civil Rights Commission for issuing a directive that churches, as public accommodations, are subject to the law that prohibits discrimination based on sexuality and gender identity.
The Commission recently released a brochure about the state law that requires public places to allow transgender persons in women's bathrooms.
A section in the brochure, titled "Does this law apply to churches?" explained that the exemption on churches does not apply "where qualifications are not related to a bona fide religious purpose."
The explanation went on to say that church services, which are open to the public, and child care facilities that churches operate do fall under "bona fide religious purpose."
However, the church, Fort Des Moines Church of Christ, said this interpretation of state law violates the First Amendment and could force churches to open women's bathrooms to transgender people.
The Commission further explained in the brochure that refusing to use the correct pronoun in addressing transgender individuals is a form of harrassment.
It also said that discrimination, according to law, means "publicizing that the patronage of persons of any particular sexual orientation or gender identity is unwelcome, objectionable, not acceptable, or not solicited."
This interpretation of the law could prevent churches from teaching Biblical principles on gender identity and sexuality from the pulpit during worship services, the lawsuit argued.
"Churches should be free to teach their religious beliefs and operate their houses of worship according to their faith without being threatened by the government. That is a foundational First Amendment principle," Christiana Holcomb from the Alliance Defending Freedom, said in a statement.
Holcomb emphasized that churches should be free from government intrusion as they have always been. They should have the freedom to teach Biblical views about sexuality and marriage, and not allowing them to do so is an "obvious unconstitutional invasion" of the state into the church.
