SW News: A Christian liberal arts College of the Ozarks in the American state of Missouri has asked the Supreme Court to protect its right to enforce a policy based on the Bible that says students must use facilities that match their biological sex.

The Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) supported the university's petition to SCOTUS on Monday asking it to review a lower court's decision that it could not challenge the Biden administration for forcing the college to act in opposition to its religious beliefs.

In April 2021, the Christian school filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration over a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development policy forcing universities to let opposite-sex students dwell in dormitories and use communal restrooms. And its infractions led to court fees, fines, and other harsh repercussions.

Biden issued an executive order titled "Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation" to ensure that no federal agency discriminates on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation.

Since the College of the Ozarks believes that sex is determined at birth, it forbids mixed-gender dorms. However, the Directive prohibits the college from building and promoting religiously-compatible student accommodations unless compelled to do so. Hence, the college's capacity to operate is jeopardized, students who depend on its housing standards suffer emotional harm, and Christian students are discouraged from enrolling, as reported.

Since the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals did not stop the housing requirement, ADF lawyers have asked the Supreme Court to protect the constitutional rights of the Christian university.

John Bursch, senior counsel and vice president of appellate advocacy for the ADF, argued that Biden "grossly exceeded his authority" by expanding the definition of "sex" to include "gender identity" and compelling Christian universities to permit boys into girls' dorm rooms and showers and vice versa. As a private university, the College of the Ozarks should be permitted to adhere to its religious convictions. Even if the government disagrees with a religious group's marriage and sexual orientation beliefs, the First Amendment preserves religious liberty.

The College of the Ozarks said that if the 8th Circuit's ruling stays, it will have to decide whether to violate its religious views or face severe government investigations and fines. Reports say that the college asked the Supreme Court to look into the matter and overturn the government's illegal religious institution order so that female students could keep their privacy, dignity, and safety.