Teri James was fired for premarital sex not because she was pregnant but because she had signed an employee contract that stated “sexually immoral behavior, including premarital sex, adultery, pornography and homosexuality” are not allowed. Employees and students have to sign the contract with San Diego Christian College before they become part of the college. According to a March 1, 2013, Huffington Post report, 29-year-old Teri James confirmed that “she did sign a two-page contract with San Diego Christian College that included a provision agreeing not to engage in ‘sexually immoral behavior including premarital sex’."
Since Teri James signed the employee contract with San Diego Christian College, it appears that the college has the right to fire her for having had premarital sex.
However, what makes this case more complex is the fact that after Teri James was fired for having had premarital sex, the college offered a job to her boyfriend, now husband.
“After James lost her job, she claims the school offered a position to her now-husband, even though they were aware he'd had sex before getting married, too.”
According to San Diego’s 10News, Gloria Allred, the high-profile attorney, who is representing Teri James for wrongful termination, says that “the school's firing of her client ‘violates state law and the California Constitution, and discriminates against women’."
Teri James’ lawsuit against San Diego Christian College alleges “discrimination on account of gender, pregnancy and marital status."
A HR spokesperson for San Diego Christian College stated that Teri James was not fired for being pregnant but for having had premarital sex.
Gloria Allred is arguing that the fact that Teri James’ boyfriend was offered a job even though the school knew he was James' boyfriend and a father-to-be constitutes discrimination.
Did the school apply a double standard? And how many people out there consider premarital sex to be immoral?
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