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Title: Christian Mingle must let LGBT singles use dating site after losing court battle
Source:
CBC News
URL Source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/trending/chr ... t-lawsuit-california-1.3663871
Published: Jul 5, 2016
Author: Lauren O'Neil
Post Date: 2016-07-05 08:40:49 by Willie Green
Keywords: None
Views: 2323
Comments: 12
God-loving gay singles have won the right to mingle on the world's most popular Christian dating site — and every other faith-based matchmaking network owned by its parent company, following a California court ruling. Spark Networks, which owns ChristianMingle, JDate, and LDSSingles.com ("the largest dating site by Mormons for Mormons"), first came under legal fire in 2013 after two gay men noticed that new members could only search for dates of the opposite sex. In filing a class-action lawsuit, the men alleged that Spark was breaking California anti-discrimination laws by making it impossible for members of the LGBT community to use its services. Same-sex Christian couples couldn't be matched through ChristianMingle because members couldn't register as gay in the first place. "Spark has engaged in a systemic and intentional pattern and practice of arbitrary discrimination against gays and lesbians throughout California by denying them full and equal services, accommodations, advantages and privileges in connection with many of its commercial dating services," reads the class-action complaint filed in December 2013. As the Wall Street Journal points out, a California state law known as the Unruh Civil Rights Act mandates that "all business establishments of every kind whatsoever" treat every person within the jurisdiction as free and equal regardless of sex, race, religion, marital status and sexual orientation, among other things. The suit against Spark states that, at the time of its filing, individuals wishing to use the Spark dating sites for Christians, Catholics, Mormons, Seventh-day Adventists, military singles and black singles could only choose from two options on the home screens of these services: "a man seeking a woman" or "a woman seeking a man." (christianmingle.com/CBC News screenshot) Last week, approximately 2½ years after the lawsuit was originally filed, Judge Jane L. Johnson of the Superior Court of California in Los Angeles County approved a settlement agreement in which Spark agreed to modify its site and search features to include LGBT singles within two years. The company did not admit to any wrongdoing, but it did agree to pay each plaintiff $9,000 US and cover the $450,000 they had accumulated together in legal fees. ChristianMingle's homepage now asks users only for their gender. There are currently no options for selecting the desired gender of one's matches throughout the sign-up process, in filling out a profile, or in searching the site for matches once registered. Under the terms of the court agreement, this will change — though there's a vocal contingent of people online who don't believe it should. Twitter critics of the court decision are saying that it's the result of a "bully verdict," an assault on religious liberty, or worse. Others though, are celebrating the move as an act of inclusion for a group that, despite much progress, still faces discrimination and violence on account of who they love. "I thought ChristianMingle was a website for Christians to mingle," wrote one commenter on a forum post about the ruling. "I guess that's not allowed." "Of course it is," another person replied. "And now it includes those Christians seeking a same-sex relationship — which many Christian churches approve of." 
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#1. To: Willie Green (#0)
If we had real courts with real justices this would be struck down in every aspect. This would be like telling Jewish sites they must allow in Islamic people or visa versa. Its a Christian site for Christians not pagans site for pagans!
what a nonsense decision perhaps your bench is full of pooftas. Christians are being persecuted in your country, you would think the courts would eb against it instead of abetting it. I saw that comment about Christian Churches approving same sex relationships, those churchs are not christian, since they do not uphold christian principles.
John 8:7
Federalism in action.
Exactly. Scripture and church tradition are very clear on this. A government strong enough to impose your standards is strong enough to ban them. Easy solution just match them up with someone who has AIDS kill two birds with one stone
What is that site servicing those living in CA for anyway? There is a simple solution for this. They can block anyone with a CA IP address from using the site and continue only matching opposite sexes.
Anyone want to tell the Lesbian/Gay/bisexual/trannie/queer crowd that MANY implies a huge minority, or a majority. As in many people are not homosexual. As opposed to few people are homosexual. Which implies how many churches support queerdom.
It was an attempt to close down the site because the homosexual lobby is at war with Christians. Mission accomplished. I gather the site will close down. If they don't they were not really Christian to begin with.
Wonder if Cheaters.com will sue the site for not offering adulterous hook ups for open adulterous "Christians."
Willie there's a reason for the above.
Explain please. I know the verse. What is your exegesis?
#2. To: Willie Green (#0)
#3. To: paraclete (#2)
Christians are being persecuted in your country, you would think the courts would eb against it instead of abetting it.
#4. To: Willie Green (#0)
#5. To: paraclete (#2)
those churchs are not christian, since they do not uphold christian principles.
#6. To: Justified (#1)
#7. To: Willie Green (#0)
In filing a class-action lawsuit, the men alleged that Spark was breaking California anti-discrimination laws by making it impossible for members of the LGBT community to use its services.
#8. To: Willie Green (#0)
"And now it includes those Christians seeking a same-sex relationship — which many Christian churches approve of."
#9. To: Justified (#1)
#10. To: A K A Stone (#6)
#11. To: Willie Green (#0)
Same-sex Christian couples couldn't be matched through ChristianMingle because members couldn't register as gay in the first place.
#12. To: Willie Green (#3)
John 8:7
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