A transgender woman is suing the university, alleging discrimination in her firing

A transgender woman is suing her former employer for allegedly firing her after she came out gender identity.

Ellenor Zinski claims to be an evangelical Christian institution Freedom Universitybased in Lynchburg, Virginia, fired her from her IT support position after she wrote to them about her change.

A lawsuit filed in July by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Virginia and Butler Curwood of Richmond claim their conduct violates U.S. law Civil Rights Act from 1964

Zinski joined Liberty, one of the largest Christian universities in the world, in 2023.

The college, founded by televangelist Jerry Falwell Sr., has had a long-standing reputation Protestant beliefs. Former US president Donald Trump hosted this institution during the so-called Republican2016 campaign trail.

Zinski says she grew up with an admiration for the university and was raised as conservative Christian, hoping that Liberty would “work with her” in her transition.

“I was really hoping to be myself,” she said.

Liberty’s legal counsel’s counterargument

Liberty’s conservative position on LGBTQ+ issues is crucial to its defense.

The university’s legal team, represented by Liberty Counsel, filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit earlier this month, citing religious exemption under the Civil Rights Act.

Liberty Counsel argues that the law allows religious institutions to make employment decisions in accordance with their doctrines, and Liberty’s policy considers “self-identification with a different gender” a sin.

They cited denial of the “biological and chromosomal sex assigned at birth” as the basis for terminating the pregnancy.

General Counsel chair Mat Staver described Zinski’s actions as a deliberate attempt to challenge university policy, saying she applied for the position only four months after it began admitting women hormones.

“This was all done to set up Liberty and try to make an example of the university,” he said.

Zinski’s legal team disputes this claim.

Wyatt Rolla, senior attorney for transgender rights at the ACLU Virginiasaid Liberty’s portrayal of Zinski’s hiring as a “ruse” was baseless.

“It feels weird to discredit Ellenor for what turned out to be a real employment discrimination issue,” Rolla said.

“No one should be fired because of who they are, but Liberty University has made it clear that is why they fired Ellenor,” he added.

Zinski formally revealed her change in a July 2023 letter to the university, expressing her commitment to her Christian faith and conducting the process “with sensitivity and respect for all parties involved.”

After four weeks of no response, she felt growing anxiety.

When she asked about her status, she was called to a meeting where she was informed that her employment contract had been terminated. During the meeting, senior staff read aloud an email that stated that “active and unrepentant patterns of sin, including sinful behaviors regarding sexual expression and/or gender expression, would be incompatible with a (Liberty) Christian workplace.”

“God made me this way”

Within months of her release, Zinski acquired a similar one THIS role at the nearby University of Lynchburg, a private institution affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) that promotes inclusive spiritual practices.

Zinski says he has a supportive work environment and finds community at Trinity Episcopal Church in Lynchburg.

Reflecting on what she experienced there, she firmly believes that “God made me this way.”

“Christianity has been so weaponized against the LGBTQ community, but there doesn’t have to be a conflict: you can be transgender and you can be a Christian. I am”.

Ziński lawsuit seeks $300,000 in compensatory and punitive damages, as well as a court declaration that Liberty University’s actions violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.

Daniel Schmid, an attorney for Liberty Counsel, said a hearing on the motion to dismiss could occur by the end of the year, although appeals could extend the case, resulting in it being remanded to the Court Supreme Court.

“Freedom regards them as servants of the Gospel,” he said. “The First Amendment protects their right to make such a call.”

This article includes reporting from the Associated Press