Path: ...!weretis.net!feeder8.news.weretis.net!eternal-september.org!feeder3.eternal-september.org!news.eternal-september.org!.POSTED!not-for-mail From: "Adam H. Kerman" Newsgroups: rec.arts.tv Subject: Re: CA Teacher Fired for Refusing to Use Preferred Pronouns; Wins Big in Lawsuit Date: Thu, 16 May 2024 01:52:46 -0000 (UTC) Organization: A noiseless patient Spider Lines: 87 Message-ID: References: Injection-Date: Thu, 16 May 2024 03:52:46 +0200 (CEST) Injection-Info: dont-email.me; posting-host="3fa426a8362a67264bdf5d098d8e7aab"; logging-data="1398706"; mail-complaints-to="abuse@eternal-september.org"; posting-account="U2FsdGVkX188Ec7JEn7WrTmdCmH+Qim8Uj49PKcmKr4=" Cancel-Lock: sha1:+QdWL/nG8yR/K6WFqrYp2pCirH4= X-Newsreader: trn 4.0-test77 (Sep 1, 2010) Bytes: 4668 BTR1701 wrote: >A California school district has settled a lawsuit with a teacher who says >she was fired over her religious beliefs after she refused to use students' >preferred pronouns, attorneys say. >The Jurupa Unified School District in Riverside County agreed to pay >$360,000 to Jessica Tapia, her attorneys at Advocates for Faith & Freedom >said in a May 14 news release. >The settlement closes a federal lawsuit Tapia filed last May that alleged >the district's decision to fire Tapia violated her civil and 1st Amendment >rights, according to the lawsuit. >The alleged violations in part stemmed from her refusal to call students by >their preferred pronouns, along with her concern about not revealing >students' gender identities to parents, the lawsuit says. That's an illegal order. A teacher is obliged by child welfare law to disclose harm or potential harm to a child in his care, or if he witnesses something harmful. >"Today's settlement serves as a reminder that religious freedom is >protected, no matter your career,"Julianne Fleischer, one of Tapia's >attorneys, said in the release. >While the district approved the settlement Monday, May 13, it "has not >admitted any fault or wrongdoing against Ms. Tapia," Jacqueline Paul, a >spokesperson for the district, said in an emailed statement to McClatchy >News. Believe whatever gets you through the night. >"The decision to settle this case was made in conjunction with the >District's self-insurance authority and in the best interest of the >students, such that the District can continue to dedicate all of its >resources and efforts to educate and support its student population >regardless of their protected class," Paul said. I don't think they are protecting them. >Tapia worked at the district since 2014, most recently as a physical >education teacher at Jurupa Valley High School, the lawsuit says. >Days before the end of the 2021-2022 school year, the lawsuit says Tapia >was put on administrative leave after posts on her personal Instagram >account were brought to the District's attention. >"The District claimed Ms. Tapia's social media posts were racist, >offensive, disrespectful, and mocking towards individuals based upon their >sexual orientation," the lawsuit says. >[How exactly can one be racist toward someone based on their sexual >orientation?] Excuse me. "Individual" is offensive to those who believe they are multiple persons. >The district went on to accuse Tapia of "proselytizing during P.E. class," >as well as refusing to call students by their preferred pronouns, the suit >says. Huh? Is there an explanation for this, or was it made up out of whole cloth? >In late September 2022, the lawsuit says Tapia received a "Notice of >Unprofessional Conduct", wherein the district listed directives she must >follow in order to keep her job. Along with using students' preferred >pronouns, this included allowing students to use the bathroom that matches >with their gender identity and not discussing the Bible with her students, >according to the lawsuit. I'd say "must not" discuss the Bible with students while on the job. >. . . >Paul said the settlement, which precludes her from seeking future >employment with the district, is not a win for Ms. Tapia but is in >compromise of a disputed claim. That's interesting. No, not a win. >"The settlement certainly does not state or prove any illegal action or >discrimination by the District," Paul said. >A June 2022 report from the UCLA School of Law's Williams Institute found >that an estimated 1.4% of 13- to 17-year-olds identified as transgender.