On June 14, the New York State Supreme Court, New York County (a trial level court in New York State), ruled that Yeshiva University (YU) and its president must “immediately grant plaintiff YU Pride Alliance the full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities, and privileges afforded to all other student groups at Yeshiva University.” 1 As Yeshiva had been refusing on religious grounds to recognize the Pride Alliance as an official University LGBTQ student group, plaintiff previously applied for a preliminary injunction to compel the University to do so. 2 This application was denied in 2021 for failure “to demonstrate a likelihood of success on the merits at that juncture.” 3 The University had argued at that time that they were a “religious corporation incorporated under the education law”—and therefore excepted from the New York City Human Rights Law (NYCHRL) under the definition of “Place or Provider of Public Accommodation” at § 8-102 – and thus, since not covered by the NYCHRL, could not have violated it. Further, the University argued, if the NYCHRL does apply, this application is violative of the First Amendment. These two issues remained before the Court in this summary judgment motion that followed “limited discovery.” […]
