A lawsuit accusing a Louisiana public school district of violating the separation of church and state by taking students to a religious event disguised as a career fair will proceed.
A federal judge refused to dismiss the case against the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board. The filing alleges significant violations of church-state separation during a public school field trip. The September 2022 incident occurred when over 2,000 high school seniors attended what they thought was a “College & Career Fair” but instead were taken to a church service called “Day of Hope.” The event, held at Living Faith Christian Center and organized by a Christian nonprofit, featured religious speakers promoting conservative Christian ideals, including gender-specific talks. Boys were involved in male-oriented competitions, while girls were subjected to discussions on topics like virginity and suicide. Additionally, the church had “poor cell phone service,” according to the Plaintiffs. Therefore, children could not inform their parents where they were or what was happening.
Students and parents, unaware of the religious nature of the event, later spoke out about the deceptive nature of the trip. A teacher present reported discriminatory treatment toward her transgender child. The event also required students to register to vote in exchange for food, a practice viewed as coercive. Despite complaints, the school district defended the event.
The plaintiffs, two students, and their mothers, filed the lawsuit seeking to end the partnership between the school district and the religious organization. They argue that the district violated the students’ rights by subjecting them to a religious service and coercive practices. The judge rejected attempts by the school district to dismiss the case, allowing the plaintiffs’ claims, including allegations of gender discrimination, to move forward. They are seeking financial compensation.
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