On March 13, 2023, the Religious Exemption Accountability Project (REAP) filed a Notice of Appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on behalf of 41 LGBTQ+ students and alumni in the case Elizabeth Hunter, et al v. The U.S. Dept. of Education et al. This case challenges the use of religious exemptions to discriminate against students on the basis of their sexual orientation/gender identity-expression, denying them full and equal access to federally funded educational programs at religiously affiliated universities across the nation.

The appeal is from a January ruling in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon, granting a motion to dismiss on the students’ claims for relief. 

Paul Southwick, Attorney and Director of REAP stated, "Equal protection means that all people of this country, including those born into religious families, rural communities, or living in the South, deserve basic civil and human rights. LGBTQ+ students and others who are being harmed at taxpayer-funded religious educational institutions are worthy of the protection of our laws. This appeal is for them. It is also a call to the leaders of our country to see them as a people group worthy of the equal protection of the law."  

Already, REAP's legal advocacy and student organizing program have galvanized thousands of LGBTQ+ students nationwide in their movement for equal treatment, safety, and justice at religiously affiliated universities. 

Donate to REAP today help organizing and legal programs support these students throughout 2023 and beyond or consider donating to this petition’s campaign!