First Liberty Institute, a religious rights law firm, sent a letter to the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA) located in Aurora, demanding the school immediately approve senior Marcail McBride's request. 

"Under Illinois law, schools must provide religious accommodations for their students, and they must also honor requests to excuse students from programs with sexual content," said Keisha Russell, counsel to First Liberty Institute. 

"Schools should never violate the religious conscience of their students. We hope President Torres ends the school administrators' clearly unlawful behavior and protects the religious liberty of every student by granting an accommodation to the family," Russell continued.

The IMSA offers programs for talented students from 10th grade through 12th grade. The school's tuition-free residential educational program enrolls a diverse student body of 650 from all areas of Illinois; admission is highly competitive, according to the IMSA website. 

The school requires students to complete the Student Gender and Sexuality Program before graduation. Students must agree to both "stay engaged" and "experience discomfort" while participating in the program, which uses sexual language to identify sexual preferences and gender identity.

In November, McBride's parents notified IMSA officials that their daughter could not participate in the program because it forces her to violate her religious beliefs. The IMSA leadership repeatedly denied the McBrides' request and threatened to punish Marcail if she does not participate in the program.

According to attorneys with First Liberty, the Illinois Religious Freedom Restoration Act requires IMSA to refrain from placing a substantial burden on the religious exercise of its students. 

And Illinois law states, "No pupil shall be required to take or participate in any class or course in comprehensive sex education if his parent or guardian submits written objection thereto, and refusal to take or participate in such course or program shall not be reason for suspension or expulsion of such pupil."

Russell added, "The school is attempting to evade the law that allows parents to opt their children out of sexual education by claiming that discussions about sexuality are not sex education. But the law is clear—the school is required to provide an accommodation to our client." Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

House Steamrolls Religious Liberty, Votes to Pass LGBTQ Bill

'You've Permanently Damaged Them': Rand Paul Grills HHS Nominee for Supporting Trans Surgery for Minors

Biden Orders First Airstrike: Hits Iran Backed Militia in Response to Rocket Attacks

Horowitz: Oklahoma House Votes to Enable Legislature to Block Biden's Executive Orders

Missouri County Takes Preventive Action against Potential Gun Grab by Biden Administration

Pro-Life Doctor's Medical License Reinstated After He Was Suspended For Refusing To Do Late-Term Abortion

Health: Study Reveals Many People Sleep Less before a Full Moon

Dr. Corinne: Back Pain, Sciatica and What You Can Do to Help Alleviate It

Chip and Joanna Gaines Deliver a 'Fixer Upper' Transformation to a Girls Shelter with a Heart-Melting Mission

'Fairness for All' Bill an Alternative to Dangerous Equality Act: Would Provide Civil Liberties for LGBTQ, AND Protections for People of Faith

Biden Cancels Trump's 'Operation Talon' Program that Targeted Sex Offenders Living in US Illegally

West Virginia Bill Seeks to Recreate Trump's Ban on Critical Race Theory at the State Level

'Our World Lost a Giant of a Man Today': Celebrate Recovery Founder John Baker Dies

Mike Pompeo Joins American Center for Law and Justice, Will Appear on Daily Live Program 'Sekulow'

'Help Is On The Way': TobyMac's New Single Embraces Hope and Healing in Wake of Son's Tragic Death

Israel Receives One of the World's Oldest Esther Scrolls in Time for Purim Holiday

Take Action and Pray: the Dangerous So-Called 'Equality Act' is Cruising through Congress

House Democrats Lobby to Cancel Fox, Newsmax and OANN as a 'Destabilizing Threat' to America

Biden Admin: Prepare for Banks to Refuse Democrats' Enemies

Dozens of House Democrats want Biden to Give Up Sole Authority to Launch Nuclear Weapons