Virginia Teacher Wins $575,000 Settlement After Firing Over Refusal to Use Transgender Student’s Pronouns

The West Point School Board in Virginia has agreed to pay $575,000 to Peter Vlaming, a former high school French teacher who was fired in 2018 for refusing to use a transgender student’s preferred pronouns. Vlaming filed a lawsuit against the school board, claiming that his termination violated his religious beliefs and constitutional rights. The settlement also includes clearing Vlaming’s dismissal from his employment record.

The case began when Vlaming, a devout Christian, refused to refer to a transgender student by male pronouns, instead opting to use the student’s chosen name while avoiding pronouns entirely. The school board argued that his refusal to comply with its policy created a hostile environment for the student and violated the school’s anti-discrimination policy. Despite multiple requests from the school to use the student’s preferred pronouns, Vlaming stood by his belief that doing so would be inconsistent with his religious convictions.

The lawsuit, supported by the Christian legal group Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), centered on Vlaming’s claim that his First Amendment rights were violated. Vlaming stated, “I was wrongfully fired from my teaching job because my religious beliefs put me on a collision course with school administrators who mandated that teachers ascribe to only one perspective on gender identity—their preferred view.” ADF attorney Tyson Langhofer argued that Vlaming was fired not for something he said but for something he could not say, emphasizing that the school board violated his rights under the Virginia Constitution.

The Virginia Supreme Court reinstated Vlaming’s lawsuit in December 2023, ruling that his claims regarding the violation of his religious rights and breach of contract could move forward. The court’s decision came after a previous lower court ruling had dismissed the case without reviewing the evidence.

As part of the settlement, the school board has agreed to align its policies with new state guidelines enacted by Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin, which allow K-12 teachers in Virginia to refer to transgender students by their birth name and gender, irrespective of their gender identity. This policy shift is part of a broader debate across the country on the rights of transgender students and the responsibilities of educators in addressing gender identity issues.

This case adds to the growing national conversation about the intersection of religious freedom and LGBTQ+ rights, with similar lawsuits arising in other states like Florida and Colorado. The settlement, while resolving this particular case, reflects ongoing tensions over policies related to gender identity in schools.