ABSTRACT
The religious interest is at its strongest where there is a claim for inclusion into core religious activities such as religious worship. Religious organisations may also provide extensive services to the general public, some of which may receive state funding, but may claim that for reasons of conscience they cannot serve, for example, gay people in some contexts. Under English law there is an explicit exception for religious organisations where the discrimination relates to 'membership of the organisation', and the law does not cover religious worship at all. One context where the right to exclude certain groups from membership of a religious organisation is far less clear involves university religious societies. Religion's role in education goes far beyond student societies. In the US, as always, the exemptions relating to sexual orientation discrimination vary by state, but religious educational institutions will usually be at least partly exempted.
