The Seattle Times’ Project Homeless is supported by BECU, Campion Foundation, Raikes Foundation and Seattle Foundation. The Seattle Times maintains editorial control over Project Homeless content. A federal court ruled Friday that a religious organization providing homelessness services in Yakima is temporarily allowed to include sexuality in its hiring criteria. It’s a sign that federal courts may undo Washington state’s recent expansion of discrimination protections to employees of religious organizations. Homeless service providers, many of which are religious organizations, are one group that could be affected. The Union Gospel Mission of Yakima, which began 85 years ago and operates a shelter and other homelessness services, says its overarching goal is to “spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Christian teachings to others.” To accomplish this, it says its employees must adhere to Christian belief and behavior requirements, including abstaining from any sexual conduct outside of marriage between one man and one woman. The Washington Law Against Discrimination, passed in 1949, prohibits discriminating against a person’s sexual orientation in hiring. At that time, the state legislature exempted religious organizations completely by excluding them from the definition of an employer. The fight over whether this law should apply to religious organizations […]

By : Markus McDowell