A former high school P.E. teacher in California reached a settlement of $360,000 with the Jurupa Unified School District after being fired for refusing to conceal students’ “gender identities” from parents and use their preferred pronouns. The teacher, Jessica Tapia, filed a lawsuit against the district, claiming her religious beliefs were not accommodated and she was ultimately terminated.
Advocates for Faith and Freedom, who represented Tapia, announced the settlement, emphasizing the importance of protecting religious freedom in all careers. Tapia’s social media posts expressing her conservative-Christian views led to her suspension by the district. Despite her requests for religious accommodations, including not using students’ preferred pronouns and not hiding information about their gender identity from parents, the district terminated her employment.
Tapia’s lawsuit argued that her First Amendment rights to free exercise and free speech, as well as her rights under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, were violated by the district’s actions. Advocates for Faith and Freedom criticized the district for imposing a “religious test” on teachers and educators by enforcing transgender policies that conflicted with Tapia’s beliefs.
Tapia expressed her hope that the settlement would pave the way for other teachers to stand up for their beliefs and religious liberties. The school district maintained that the settlement was a compromise and did not admit to any wrongdoing or discrimination. The district’s spokesperson emphasized their commitment to providing a safe learning environment for all students, regardless of their protected class.
The case, Tapia v. Jurupa Unified School District, was heard in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
