A Colorado school district is standing by its decision to have a 6-year-old transgender student, who was born with male genitalia but identifies as a female, barred from using female restrooms at school, in spite of a discrimination complaint filed by the student's parents.

In December 2011, Colorado's Fountain-Fort Carson School District told the parents of Coy Mathis, who identifies with the female gender, that their child would not be allowed to use the girls' restroom upon returning from winter break at Eagleside Elementary School, located in Fountain, Colo.

Rather, Mathis would be allowed to use the boys' bathroom, gender-neutral faculty bathrooms or the nurse's bathroom. more >>

California Baptist University has been sued by a transgender student who was expelled by the academic institute for inaccurately stating that he was female.

Domaine Javier filed suit against the University on Monday in the Superior Court of California in Riverside County.

"CBU suspended her, excluded her from campus, and expelled her for one reason: she is transgender," reads the suit. "As a result of the suspension, exclusion, and expulsion, Ms. Javier has suffered economic damages, including loss of the honors scholarships CBU awarded and loss of wages." more >>

The Australian High Court has banned a controversial church from public preaching without a permit, arguing that such a ruling does not constitute as infringement of freedom of speech.

"It's obviously disappointing to hear the judges deny freedom of political communication," said Samuel Corneloup, who along with his brother Caleb preaches at the Street Church in Adelaide, Australia.

"We've always wanted to be law-abiding citizens. What we always wanted were permits to preach in the mall, and the council repeatedly denied us," Corneloup continued, according to The Australian. "We're happy that, with this ruling, the council can't reject us (for permits) because of our content, they can only reject us for obstructing people." more >>

Recent reports indicate that Pastor Behnam Irani, who has been held in Iran's Ghezal Hesar prison since 2006 for his Christian faith, is not receiving medical treatment as his health continues to rapidly decline.

Over the past several months, the pastor, who previously led the Church of Iran in the city of Karaj in Alborz Province, has suffered from internal bleeding due to ulcers, complications with his colon, and declining vision.

The only medical assistance the pastor has received from prison authorities includes being provided tablets to stop his internal bleeding, which at one point caused him to lose consciousness. more >>

A 20-year Ohio middle school science teacher who was fired in 2011 for teaching creationism in his class will have his day in the Ohio Supreme Court on Wednesday when his lawyers will argue that his firing was a violation of his First and Fourteenth Amendment rights to free speech and religion.

"In oral arguments before the Ohio Supreme Court tomorrow, February 27, The Rutherford Institute will defend the right to academic freedom of a science teacher fired for encouraging students to think critically about the school's science curriculum, particularly as it relates to evolution theories," said the Rutherford Institute in a statement released in response to questions from The Christian Post on Tuesday.

"In coming to veteran science teacher John Freshwater's defense, Institute attorneys argue that the Mount Vernon City School District violated John Freshwater's academic freedom rights – and those of his students – by firing him in January 2011," said the statement. more >>

A German couple will have its day in court once more as it appeals a decision barring them from seeking asylum in the United States in order to homeschool their children.

Uwe and Hannelore Romeike, a devout Christian couple with five school-aged children, appealed to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, which decided last week to have oral arguments take place in April.

The Romeikes, who came to the United States in 2008, are being represented by the Home School Legal Defense Association. more >>