{"id":2580789,"date":"2026-03-17T10:30:01","date_gmt":"2026-03-17T14:30:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/watch-zinski-v-liberty-university-oral-arguments\/"},"modified":"2026-03-17T10:31:28","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T14:31:28","slug":"watch-zinski-v-liberty-university-oral-arguments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/watch-zinski-v-liberty-university-oral-arguments\/","title":{"rendered":"WATCH: Zinski v. Liberty University oral arguments"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">14<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwatch-zinski-v-liberty-university-oral-arguments%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2580789&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Washington Examiner report covers Zinski v. Liberty University, a Fourth Circuit case that centers on a clash between Liberty University\u2019s religious doctrine and allegations of <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >anti-transgender discrimination<\/a> by a former employee. Jonathan Zinski joined Liberty in February 2023 and, after a 90-day probation, announced plans to legally change his name to Ellenor and transition to identifying as a woman. He was then fired for allegedly violating the university\u2019s doctrinal statement, which requires rejecting practices that contradict Christian teachings, including gender identity self-identification.<\/p>\n<p>Liberty university argues the case could travel to the supreme Court, while Liberty Counsel\u2019s Mat staver contends Zinski set up the university by taking hormones and falsely affirming the doctrinal statement. The American Civil Liberties Union supports Zinski, arguing that firing someone over gender identity constitutes <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/transgender-former-employee-is-suing-liberty-university-over-firing\/\" title=\"... former employee is suing ... over firing\">illegal sex discrimination<\/a>. The Fourth Circuit is slated to hear oral arguments, with a video of the arguments available, and the piece notes the potential for a landmark ruling on the balance between religious liberty and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-approves-gender-equality-act-in-224-206-vote\/\" title=\"House approves ... \u2018Equality Act\u2019 in 224-206 vote\">anti-discrimination protections<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">WATCH LIVE: Zinski v. Liberty University oral arguments<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2523263\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"youtube-embed\" data-video_id=\"\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"WATCH: Zinski v. Liberty University Oral arguments\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/fC_e__1Exxc?feature=oembed&amp;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p><em>Zinski v. Liberty University<\/em> features a clash between Liberty University&rsquo;s religious doctrine and allegations of anti-transgender discrimination from a former employee. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit will hear oral arguments on Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. in the possibly landmark case.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Lawyers for the university say the case is likely to go all the way to the Supreme Court.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4493511\/court-allows-doj-proceed-appeal-law-firm-executive-orders\/\">Court allows DOJ to proceed with appeal over law firm executive orders<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4493188\/appeals-court-trump-win-third-country-deportation-policy\/\">Appeals court hands Trump win on third-country deportation policy<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4493198\/bank-of-america-settles-lawsuit-by-jeffrey-epstein-accusers\/\">Bank of America settles lawsuit brought by Jeffrey Epstein accusers<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>It began when <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/sAjtaQVzPRo\">Jonathan Zinski<\/a>, a biological man, got a job at Liberty University, a predominantly Christian University in Lynchburg, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/virginia\/\">Virginia<\/a>, in February 2023. After the 90-day probationary period for new employees, Zinski told the university of a plan to legally change his name from Jonathan Zinski to Ellenor Zinski and transition to identifying as a woman.<\/p>\n<p>The university fired Zinski for going against the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.liberty.edu\/about\/doctrinal-statement\/\">doctrinal statement<\/a> Zinski signed upon taking the job. That statement included a pledge to reject a litany of practices that contradict <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/christian\/\">Christian teachings<\/a>, including &ldquo;denial of birth sex by self-identification with a different gender.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/lc.org\/lu\">Liberty Counsel&rsquo;s<\/a> Founder and Chairman Mat Staver, who is arguing the case for Liberty University, told <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> in an exclusive interview that new details have emerged that, in his view, prove Zinski &ldquo;set up&rdquo; the university.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Jonathan Zinski clearly set up Liberty University because he was taking the female hormones, he falsely affirmed the doctrinal statement, and then when he was terminated, he got the help of the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.acluva.org\/cases\/zinski-v-liberty-university\/\">ACLU<\/a>,&rdquo; Staver said. <\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3422652\/liberty-university-ellenor-zinski-transgender-former-employee-suing-over-firing\/\"><strong>TRANSGENDER FORMER EMPLOYEE IS SUING LIBERTY UNIVERSITY OVER FIRING<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Zinski <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3422652\/liberty-university-ellenor-zinski-transgender-former-employee-suing-over-firing\/\">filed a lawsuit<\/a> supported by the American Civil Liberties Union. Wyatt Rolla, who is the ACLU-VA senior transgender rights attorney and counsel for this case, wrote in a statement to the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>: &ldquo;No matter your religious beliefs, it&rsquo;s illegal sex discrimination to fire employees because of their gender identity.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Watch the full arguments <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/youtube.com\/live\/fC_e__1Exxc\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Live: Zinski v. Liberty U. gender-identity case<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2745,"featured_media":2580790,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/zinski-LU-Feature-image.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[75960,75961,41649,50769,58837],"class_list":["post-2580789","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-courtcase","tag-educationlaw","tag-legalnews","tag-religiousfreedom","tag-watch-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/zinski-LU-Feature-image.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2580789","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2745"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2580789"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2580789\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2580797,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2580789\/revisions\/2580797"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2580790"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2580789"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2580789"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2580789"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}