Counseling student accuses school of forcing acceptance of homosexuality

Jennifer Keeton, a 24-year-old graduate student at Augusta State University, is suing the school on first amendment grounds saying that ASU is forcing her to change her Christian beliefs that homosexuality is immoral and wrong.

While the school has not yet been served the papers, Keeton will be represented by the socially conservative Alliance Defense Fund.

Credit: ADF

Keeton is a student at the counseling program that is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs. The program follows American School Counselor Association’s ethical guidelines that specify that a counselor “Respects the student’s values and beliefs and does not impose the counselor’s personal values.”

The guidelines also requires that a counselor “Expands and develops awareness of his/her own attitudes and beliefs affecting cultural values and biases and strives to attain cultural competence,” and “Acquires educational, consultation and training experiences to improve awareness, knowledge, skills and effectiveness in working with diverse populations: ethnic/racial status, age, economic status, special needs, ESL or ELL, immigration status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, family type, religious/spiritual identity and appearance.”

When Keeton talked in and outside of the classroom of her opposition to homosexuality, she said the school forced her to change her beliefs. She said she was made to attend diversity and sensitivity trainings, attend a Pride parade and submit monthly papers to her supervisors to track how her beliefs have changed.

Keeton said that her views on homosexuality would not affect her ability to counsel gay or lesbian clients. She also denied allegations that she advocated for “conversion therapy” to change clients’ sexual orientation, which she calls a “lifestyle choice.”

Because her views on homosexuality are linked to her Christianity, Keeton has said she is facing religious discrimination.

As the school has not been served the legal papers, ASU officials have not yet commented on the suit.

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