Nicole Russell is a contributor to The Daily Signal. Her work has appeared in The Atlantic, The New York Times, National Review, Politico, The Washington Times, The American Spectator, and Parents Magazine. Officials in the state of Maryland have banned a school from their voucher program due to their faith-based views on gay marriage and transgenderism. The Baltimore Sun reported that Bethel Christian Academy responded to the ban with a lawsuit contending officials violated their religious freedom. According to the complaint filed in June, the voucher program in Maryland–Broadening Options and Opportunities for Students– launched in the 2016-2017 school year and benefits low-income students, allowing them to attend private schools they otherwise may be unable to afford. The state instituted a ban on Bethel Christian Academy after sifting through the handbooks of nearly 180 schools that participated in the voucher program. Of those, nearly 20 were deemed ineligible due to discriminatory language in their handbooks, including Bethel. Though Bethel Christian Academy espouses traditional Christian beliefs about marriage and sexuality, the school has not disqualified a student from attending based on sexual orientation. Officials required the school to reimburse the state for their participation in the program prior to the […]
