Idaho State Sued by Athlete for Anti-Mormon Bias

Idaho State University has been sued by a tennis player who charges that he was the victim of religious discrimination and sexual harassment, The Post Register reported. The athlete who sued is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His lawsuit says that team members made fun of his Mormon faith, repeatedly badgering him with questions about sexual practices that would conflict with his faith. The harassment increased, the suit says, when he told his coaches and fellow team members that he would be leaving the next year for a mission trip in which Mormons typically participate. Then an assistant coach and players sent two prostitutes or strippers to the student's room to try to make him violate the teachings of his faith. He sent the women away.

The suit charges that an assistant coach directly participated in the harassment and that the coach permitted a culture in which the Mormon student was harassed. Both the coach and assistant coach are no longer in their positions. The university said it does not comment on litigation. But the newspaper reported that an internal investigation by the university backed up many of the complaints, including the allegation involving prostitutes or strippers.