Christian Organization Sued For Sexual Harassment In Colorado

A well-known Christian organization in Colorado was sued on June 29^th over allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct. The allegations were made by a former volunteer against Young Life who claims to be a victim as well as a witness to sexual harassment at the organization.

Young Life Did Nothing about the Sexual Harassment

The young woman’s attorney, Ellen Giarratana, claims that Young Life did nothing about the sexual misconduct complaints. She says her client has been involved with the group since high school when she went to a camp organized by them. She immediately bonded with a lot of members and knew that she wanted to be involved in their cause.

Giarratana says everything changed for her client in the summer of 2019 when she was volunteering for Young Life at the Rocky Creek Ranch camp.

Young Life Ratified Sexual Behavior

The lawsuit alleges that the college going woman was subject to sexual assault and assault and battery. Young Life did nothing about the complaints. Instead, they ratified the behavior claiming the young man was a nice guy and he may not have meant it to happen. They went so far as to say the kitchen was small and that could have led to the incident.

The young man at the center of the lawsuit is claimed to have quote bible verses while inappropriately touching the victim. According to the newly-filed lawsuit, the victim told at least a dozen people at Young Life about the harassment. Everyone just called it “God’s plan” for her and asked her to let it go.

Giarratana stated that this demonstrates the attitude of the organization and that going forward her client would be seeking change in their policies and behavior.

Sexual Harassment Law in Colorado

Sexual harassment is illegal in Colorado and can happen to both men and women. Sexual harassment can be described as a type of sex discrimination that occurs in the form of requests for sexual favors, unwelcome sexual advances, and other conduct that leads to a hostile work environment.

Victims of sexual harassment can file a lawsuit whether they are part time employees, interns, vendors, customers, or volunteers. However, it’s vital to consult with an experienced sexual harassment lawyer.

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq.) applies to sex discrimination. This law prohibits all forms of harassment, including sexual harassment, against a person. It also prohibits gender identity discrimination against transgenders, gays, lesbians, and bisexuals. Experienced sexual harassment attorneys can help victims understand their rights and the best way to move forward.