Fired teacher’s lawsuit reinstated over refusal to use trans student’s pronouns
OAN’s Abril Elfi
2:14 PM – Friday, December 15, 2023
A Virginia Teacher’s Lawsuit Reinstated After Refusing to Use Transgender Student’s Preferred Pronouns
The student in question is a biological woman who identifies as a transgender man.
On Thursday, the state’s Supreme Court announced the reinstatement of the lawsuit.
After being fired in 2018, Peter Vlaming, a former French teacher at West Point High School, filed a lawsuit against the school board and its administrators.
Before any evidence was considered in the case, a judge dismissed the lawsuit. However, the Supreme Court reversed that decision and declared that the lawsuit could go to trial.
Vlaming had used the student’s masculine name but refrained from using their preferred pronouns of “he” and “him,” according to his claims in the lawsuit.
Later, the student’s parents and the school informed him that he must use the student’s preferred male pronouns and that there would be problems if he ignored their request.
Because of his “sincerely held religious and philosophical” views that “each person’s sex is biologically fixed and cannot be changed,” Vlaming asserted that he was morally unable to use the student’s pronouns. Additionally, Vlaming claimed that using the student’s pronouns “would be a lie.”
Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative Christian legal advocacy group, filed the lawsuit on his behalf, alleging that the school had violated his constitutional rights to free speech and religious practice.
Vlaming, according to the school board, broke the anti-discrimination policy of the institution.
Two of Vlaming’s claims, namely that his right to freely exercise his religion was violated under the Virginia constitution and his claim of breach of contract against the school board, should go to trial, which the seven justices of the state Supreme Court agreed upon.
Justice D. Arthur Kelsy wrote in the majority opinion that “absent a truly compelling reason for doing so, no government committed to these principles can lawfully coerce its citizens into pledging verbal allegiance to ideological views that violate their sincerely held religious beliefs.”
However, the court disagreed on a few points regarding the lawsuit.
Along with two other justices, Justice Thomas Mann dissentingly stated that the majority’s ruling on Vlaming’s claim of freedom of religion was expansive and ”establishes a sweeping super scrutiny standard with the potential to shield any person’s objection to practically any policy or law by claiming a religious justification for their failure to follow either.”
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How should schools handle situations where a teacher’s religious beliefs conflict with the needs and identities of transgender students? Should teachers be allowed to refuse to use a student’s preferred pronouns based on their religious beliefs?
Ligious exercise was incorrect. Mann argued that the school’s anti-discrimination policy was intended to create a safe and inclusive environment for all students, including transgender students.
The legal battle in Virginia highlights the ongoing debate surrounding LGBTQ+ rights and religious freedom. While some argue that individuals should have the right to express their religious beliefs without restriction, others argue that it is important to protect the rights of transgender individuals to be recognized and respected in their preferred gender identity.
This case also brings attention to the role of schools in creating inclusive environments. It raises questions about how schools should handle situations where a teacher’s religious beliefs conflict with the needs and identities of their students. Should teachers be allowed to refuse to use a student’s preferred pronouns based on their religious beliefs, or should schools require their staff to comply with policies that aim to protect the rights of transgender students?
The answers to these questions are complex and require careful consideration. It is crucial to find a balance that respects both religious freedom and the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals. This case will serve as a precedent for future lawsuits and decisions, impacting the way schools and institutions handle similar situations.
As the case moves forward to trial, it will be closely watched by legal experts, activists, and individuals with vested interests in both religious freedom and LGBTQ+ rights. The outcome of this case could have far-reaching implications for the rights and protections of transgender individuals in educational settings.
In conclusion, the reinstatement of the lawsuit involving a Virginia teacher’s refusal to use a transgender student’s preferred pronouns raises important questions about the intersection of religious freedom and LGBTQ+ rights. It highlights the ongoing debate surrounding the rights of individuals to express their religious beliefs while also recognizing and respecting the identities of transgender individuals. This case will contribute to shaping the way schools and institutions navigate similar issues in the future, impacting the rights and protections of transgender individuals in educational settings.
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