LOS ANGELES (AP) A federal judge says sexual orientation is covered under a law that bans gender-based discrimination based in educational programs.
U.S. District Judge Dean Pregerson's ruling lets two former Pepperdine University women's basketball players proceed with a lawsuit alleging the school discriminated against them because they were dating.
According to the Los Angeles Times (http://lat.ms/1QVVEVe ), the Dec. 15 ruling says Title IX covers the women's claims because the alleged discrimination hinged on each woman's sex in the same-sex relationship.
Haley Videckis and Layana White say their coach wanted them off the team because their relationship would affect the team's performance.
Pepperdine argued that Title IX doesn't cover claims based on sexual orientation. But Pregerson cited an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission decision that says allegations of sexual orientation discrimination ''necessarily state a claim of discrimination on the basis of sex.''
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Information from: Los Angeles Times, http://www.latimes.com/
