Vigorous debates across the country transgender rights It plays out on a very personal level in a federal court case filed in Virginia by a former Liberty University employee. She was expelled by her evangelical Christian school after revealing that she was a transgender woman.

case The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Ellenor Zinski in July by the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia and the Richmond law firm of Butler Curwood. The document alleges that she was fired from her job at Liberty’s Information Technology help desk last year solely because of her gender identity, in violation of the U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Earlier this month, conservative legal organization Liberty Counsel I gave a brief summary On behalf of the university, I request that the federal district court dismiss the case. The brief argues that the Civil Rights Act expressly allows religious educational institutions to make employment decisions consistent with their religious doctrines—in this case, a doctrinal statement that suggests it is sinful to “reject the sex at birth by identifying with a different gender.”

Over its fifty-year history, Liberty University, headquartered in Lynchburg, Virginia, has become one of the largest Christian universities in the world, with more than 100,000 students enrolled in its residential and online programs. One of its co-founders was the late Jerry Falwell Sr., a prominent television personality and conservative activist. was; son, Jerry Falwell Jr.He served as president for 13 years before resigning in 2020 amid a series of personal scandals.

The brief filed by Liberty Counsel alleges that Zinski tried to “set up” the university, applying for the IT job four months after he started taking female hormones, but agreed to abide by the school’s transgender disclaimer when he was offered the job in February 2023. transition.

In an effort to dismiss the case, Liberty Counsel said Zinski notified the university of his gender transition only after his 90-day probation ended and then requested that the school “depart from its doctrine and mission.”

“This was all done to establish Liberty and try to set an example for the university to be able to stand on its own two feet,” said Mat Staver, founder and president of Liberty Counsel.

ACLU of Virginia senior transgender rights attorney Wyatt Rolla denied the allegation of entrapment.

“It’s strange to belittle Ellenor for what turns out to be a real concern about discrimination in employment,” he said. “His intention was to be a highly successful employee who continued to fulfill all of his obligations for Liberty.”

Trans woman suing Liberty grew up admiring the university

Zinski, 30, says he was raised a conservative Christian, attended a Christian high school, and took the job at Liberty hoping the college he admired would accept him even after learning of his transition. He had received a positive performance evaluation after completing his parole.

“I was really hoping they would work with me and I could be myself,” he told the Associated Press. “I was hoping I could advocate for queer people. “We need Jesus as much as anyone else.”

In his July 2023 letter announcing his transfer to college, Zinski emphasized that his Christian faith “has been a guiding force throughout this process.”

“The public discourse surrounding the transgender community has filled my journey with a certain degree of fear,” she wrote. “However, I hope that with your support and understanding we can conduct this process with sensitivity and respect for all parties involved.”

Zinski’s failure to receive an immediate response to his letter caused, in his own words, intense anxiety.

Four weeks later, he was notified of the status of his case and was immediately summoned to a meeting with Liberty human resources officials to be informed that he would be fired. A long email explaining the reason for the dismissal was read aloud to him at the meeting.

“Patterns of active and unrepentant sin, including sinful behavior related to sexual expression and/or gender expression, are incompatible with our Christian workplace,” the email said.

What awaits Ellenor Zinski and her case?

Within a few months of his layoff, Zinski managed to find a similar IT help desk job at the University of Lynchburg, a small, private university. It is affiliated with the mainline Protestant denomination, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and describes spiritual life on campus as “inclusive and open.”

“A lot of people at work have my back,” Zinski said.

He also found support as an active member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Lynchburg. He says he was first assured at Trinity that “God created me this way.”

The next official step in the case will be for the ACLU of Virginia to file a brief opposing Liberty Counsel’s request to dismiss the case.

Freedom Counsel attorney Daniel Schmid, who is working on the case, said there will likely be a hearing and perhaps a decision on the motion to dismiss before the end of this year. But he said the case could go well beyond that if there are appeals that eventually lead to the U.S. Supreme Court.

In a telephone interview with the AP, Schmid talked about the so-called “ministerial exception,” which gives religious institutions protection from anti-discrimination lawsuits related to work related to ministerial duties.

Even with IT staff and cleaners, Schmid said, “Liberty sees them as ministers of the Gospel. The First Amendment protects their right to make that call.”

The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages of $300,000 on Zinski’s behalf, as well as a declaration that the university’s handling of the case violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.

Zinski told the AP he has no desire to return to work at Liberty, at least under its current leadership.

“My biggest fear if I go back is knowing there are people who don’t want me there,” he said. “I wouldn’t feel comfortable enough to work there.”

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