Teri James, 29, was fired from her job after her employer, San Diego Christian College, found out she had conceived a child out of wedlock. The fact she was pregnant was not the issue, it was because she had premarital sex. This violates the college’s “community covenant” that James signed before she was pregnant.
The covenant asked employees to abstain from “abusive anger, malice, jealousy, lust, sexually immoral behavior including premarital sex, adultery, pornography and homosexuality, evil desires and prejudice based on race, sex or socioeconomic status,” among other perceived sins such as tobacco, drugs and alcohol.
Gloria Allred is representing James and points out that the covenant “does not say that you will be fired if you do not comply.” The Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978, which “prohibit[s] sex discrimination on the basis of pregnancy,” means the firing of James is more than likely illegal.
To add insult to sexist injury, after firing James, the school offered her boyfriend the job. He declined the position and the two are now married. So, clearly, in the eyes of this institution, it’s okay for the man to be engaging in premarital sex but not the woman. The fact he has a penis merits a pass for him on their ethics code.
“I had to go into the office with all of my co-workers and say I’m leaving,” James told NBC’s “Today.” “I never came back, so I don’t know what my co-workers thought, but for me, it was humiliating. I felt like I was in trouble.”
Religious employers dictating behavior to their employees in the 21st century is rife with problems, especially when only women are targeted. Let’s move forward, shall we?
Kimberley A. Johnson (BIO) – A.K.A. The Anti Coulter is the author of The Virgin Diaries and an activist for women’s rights. Like her on Facebook, Twitter or friend her on FB HERE. Check out her campaign to raise money for her next book on Women’s Rights and The Importance Of Voting
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