NEW YORK — New York City Comptroller Brad Lander warned Yeshiva University on Monday that its public funds were at risk because of its “discriminatory actions” against LGBTQ students, the latest in the university’s long and acrimonious legal battle against recognizing a student pride group. Latest results of the battle.
The prominent modern conservative university in New York City has for years refused to recognize the YU Pride Alliance, arguing that sanctioning the club would violate its religious beliefs.
The legal dispute revolves around whether the university is a secular institution that must comply with non-discrimination laws, or a religious one covered by protections for the free expression of beliefs. The university’s public funding has come under scrutiny as it attempts to walk a line between the two sides of the issue.
lander said in his letter to the university’s president, Rabbi Ari Berman, that as comptroller he is overseeing the university’s refusal to recognize the Pride group.
“Let me urge your institution to change course and provide a safe environment for your LGBTQ+ students and staff to be a supportive space,” said Lander, who is Jewish. “Yeshiva University’s own anti-discrimination policy is completely undermined by its refusal to allow students to form this group within its own terms and mission.”
He stated that all recipients of New York City public funds must comply with municipal laws, including protections for human rights, which the university has refused to comply with.
Lander said Yeshiva University has received about $8.8 million in city funding since 2010.
“The university’s discriminatory actions could put future funding and associated services at risk,” they wrote. “I have confidence in your ability to make the right decisions and welcome everyone, including LGBTQ+ members of your institution, to Yeshiva University.”
Example: New York City Comptroller Brad Lander at a protest against the Israeli government on February 21, 2023 in New York City. (Luke Tress/The Times of Israel)
In response to the letter, the university said, “We will continue to defend our students against these false allegations. We’ve already established a path forward that provides a loving and supportive space for our LGBTQ students. We urge well-intentioned politicians to please know the facts before attacking the Jewish education of our students.
last month, state lawmakers said The university misrepresented its status as a secular institution to receive more than $230 million in public funding from the state of New York and demanded an explanation.
The university has consistently refused to recognize the undergraduate Pride group and has taken measures including temporarily closing all student clubs and establishing their own. “Torah-Based” LGBTQ Clubs To avoid accrediting the U Pride Alliance.
Recognition will provide the Pride Club with funding and other benefits that are distributed to other student clubs.
The university has sought to walk a line between welcoming LGBTQ students and refusing to recognize the YU Pride Alliance, with the coming battle as Orthodox communities grapple with how to address LGBTQ individuals. Gay sex and gay marriage are generally taboo in Orthodox Judaism.
Manhattan Appeals Court Government Late last year the university must formally recognize the UU Pride Alliance, which said the school is not eligible for religious exemptions to anti-discrimination laws that ban bias based on sexual orientation and other characteristics. Is.
The court also rejected the university’s argument that it should not recognize the club because of First Amendment protections, noting that three of the university’s graduate schools have already recognized LGBTQ groups. Yeshiva University said it would continue to appeal against the decision.
The US Supreme Court has indicated interest in the case following a request from the university, saying it may take it up if the yeshiva exhausts the appeals process at the state level. The university has at least one more avenue of appeal in New York and said it plans to again go to the nation’s highest court.
The legal battle between the university and the Pride group began in 2020, when LGBTQ student activists accused the university of discrimination in a complaint to the city’s Human Rights Commission, before suing the university the following year.
In a related case, a synagogue is attached to the university. a transgender woman kicked out at the end of last year.
