Gender Discrimination Lawsuit Accuses Prominent Harlem Church of Bias in Pastor Search Process

New York City has a long history with the Abyssinian Baptist Church, considered a flagship of the Black church in America. Located in Harlem, this megachurch gained prominence under the leadership of Rev. Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., who served as pastor from 1937 to 1972 while also holding a seat in Congress for 26 years. Eboni Marshall Turman, a believer in Abyssinian, aspired to become its first female senior pastor and was ordained as the church’s youngest pastor in 2007. Following the death of long-time senior pastor Calvin O. Butts III in 2022, Marshall Turman, … Read more

Federal Jury Finds Thomas Jefferson University Guilty of Gender Bias in Investigation of Alleged Rape Case by Former Surgeon

PHILADELPHIA, PA – A federal jury has reached a decision in a civil trial involving Thomas Jefferson University and former surgeon John Abraham. The jury found that the university’s investigation into allegations of rape against Abraham was biased on the basis of gender. They ruled that Jefferson’s leadership had violated Abraham’s civil rights and interfered with his ability to work as a surgeon and partner at the Rothman Orthopaedic Institute. The case centered around Abraham’s claims that a second-year resident in Jefferson’s orthopedic program had pursued sex with him at a pool party in June … Read more

Milestone Verdict: Male Professor Awarded $15 Million in Landmark Gender Discrimination Case Against Thomas Jefferson University

Philadelphia, PA – A federal jury in Philadelphia has awarded $15 million to a former male professor who sued Thomas Jefferson University for gender discrimination in a sexual assault investigation. This verdict marks the largest-ever award under Title IX, the federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in federally funded schools. Legal experts say it is also the first time a male professor accused by a female subordinate has won such a case against a university at trial. The case was highly unusual and the verdict was dramatic, according to KC Johnson, a Title IX expert … Read more