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The bitter nationwide debate over transgender rights is playing out on a very personal level in a federal court lawsuit filed in Virginia by a former Liberty University employee. She was fired by the evangelical Christian school after disclosing her identity as a transgender woman.

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

Earlier this month, the conservative legal organization Liberty Counsel filed a brief on behalf of the university asking the federal district court to dismiss the lawsuit. The brief contends that the Civil Rights Act explicitly permits religious educational institutions to make employment decisions consistent with their religious doctrine — in this case a doctrinal statement asserting that “denial of birth sex by self-identification with a different gender” is sinful.

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[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 87 points 2 weeks ago (4 children)

It just shows how difficult it is for a trans person to get a job in the U.S. when she was desperate enough to take a job at a fascism indoctrination mill.

[–] moody@lemmings.world 103 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

If you read the article, you'd know it wasn't desperation. It was an institution she admired and specifically wanted to work there. It's even sadder than being desperate. She was already indoctrinated into the cult that hates her for who she is.

[–] ikidd@lemmy.world 35 points 2 weeks ago

leopardsatemyface.jpg

[–] WoodScientist@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

And yet, without such people, these institutions will never change. If you want these institutions to be non-hateful, you have to get non-hateful people into them. We're not going to get rid of Liberty University any time soon. And I would prefer to see it grow into a non-bigoted institution than to have it remain a bigoted institution indefinitely.

[–] PortoPeople@lemm.ee 51 points 2 weeks ago (4 children)

I was about to say, why the fuck would you work for a Christian organization if you are trans? It's like being black and working for the KKK.

[–] tyler@programming.dev 35 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Not at all. If these people actually read the Bible they’d be completely fine with trans people. They don’t, they just make up shit to fit their preexisting beliefs and then call themselves Christian.

[–] floofloof@lemmy.ca 18 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (3 children)

It depends what kind of Christianity you're dealing with. Where I live, most of the churches have rainbow flags on display with "everyone's welcome here" messages and lost of leftish liberals with fairly progressive views. Some even put pro-LGBTQ+ messages on their signs that call people out for bigotry. But Liberty University isn't that kind of Christianity.

[–] Kit@lemmy.blahaj.zone 10 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Yup. A lot of churches have the stance of "love thy neighbor. Did I fucking stutter?" and it's very refreshing after decades of nonstop hate. Not saying the hate isn't still out there, but we've come a long way even in the past 10 years.

[–] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

love thy neighbor

I guess Jesus didn't consider his neighbor's slaves to be neighbors as well... Or is there something about a slave that makes them not need love like other humans?

[–] Kit@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I am quite certain that the churches I'm talking about are adamantly against slavery.

[–] TheCannonball@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago (4 children)

I think he's referring to Jesus' pro-slavery stances.

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[–] Don_alForno@feddit.org 4 points 2 weeks ago

Gee, it's almost as if their religion's name patron had preached to love and forgive each other and aid the poor and downtrodden. Crazy thought.

[–] pearsaltchocolatebar 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

There must be a bunch of episcopalians in your area

[–] Kit@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 2 weeks ago

I see pride flags mostly on Methodist and Presbyterian churches in my area

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 10 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I'm just amazed they didn't figure it out sooner. She does look like she can pass, but I'm still amazed. You would think a place so paranoid of atheist librul indoctrination would run background checks before they hire anyone. Unless a background check wouldn't turn up her deadname, I guess...

[–] Nougat@fedia.io 19 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Unless a background check wouldn't turn up her deadname, I guess...

It absolutely would. There might not be anything specific about gender identity, but it wouldn't be too hard to do the math.

I think it's more likely that they don't do background checks, because they don't want to appear on c/priestarrested.

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] Nougat@fedia.io 10 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] Late2TheParty@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

I see what you did there. And, I like it!

[–] NielsBohron@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

it wouldn't be too hard to do the math.

I think you severely overestimate their ability to do math.

[–] Jumpingspiderman@reddthat.com 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Not all Christian organizations would have an issue. However the conservative ones, which are unfortunately the majority, would.

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[–] lennybird@lemmy.world 15 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

I wish Dems would start spitting fire and come out with an ad going through the list of prejudices throughout our history.

"Native Americans / Aborigines? Italians? Jews? Asians? Blacks? Latinos? Women voting? Muslims? Gay? And now trans?

Isn't it always something? When will we all see the pattern here that these witch hunts always fall on the wrong side of history. And they're always perpetrated by the same sort of people - not grouped by the color of their skin race or religion, but of profound ignorance rooted in fear of the unknown. Cutting across every other adjective used to divide us, we are ALL human."

Side note but my god I still think of that Bernie Sanders ad from his 2016 campaign, Vote Together.

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 7 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

The problem right now is that there are a bunch of bigots who vote Democratic and the margins are sliver-thin.

Maybe they would actually get more voters if they did that, but I don't know that they necessarily would. I think the people who have given up on the Democratic party would say, "too little, too late."

There's also the problem that the party is being run by a bunch of elders who have paleolithic moral compasses.

[–] lennybird@lemmy.world 7 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

Fair point. I feel Immediately following elections Democrats need to pivot into this one-part educational teacher mindset to dispel common myths on us history and civics (eg, "The Dems were the slavers!"), and one-part activism. Every election cycle we fall for the trap of letting the blind lead the blind. To carve out the winning electorate by whatever means necessary as you say. But when do we actually try to nudge Americans in the right direction? This is what I commended Warren or Sanders for because they built a movement around where the country needed to go through facts and conviction and persuaded people.

Democrats rarely persuade and equally fall for whatever bullshit narrative Republicans design.

[–] andyburke@fedia.io 5 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

You sound like me almost 25 years ago.

This is how things are. This is how they will always be. We will ALWAYS have to fight to keep people from being hated and excluded, especially in ourselves as we look at the people trying to do the excluding and our knee-jerk is to exclude them.

I wish I had the answer so we could skip the hard work and live together in harmony. I worry there just is never an easy answer or change in tactics or shift in messaging - it's just living your whole life with bravery and kindness, as hard as that gets at times.

[–] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

especially in ourselves as we look at the people trying to do the excluding and our knee-jerk is to exclude them.

Gonna have to disagree here. This is the "paradox" of intolerance (not really a paradox). These people have no place in modern society, and this type of behavior and ideology should 100% be excluded.

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[–] jawa21@lemmy.sdf.org 3 points 2 weeks ago

If I hadn't spent 2 decades becoming self sufficient for exactly this reason, I would be SOL. The machining world is absolutely full of bigoted assholes.

[–] Kazumara@discuss.tchncs.de 33 points 2 weeks ago

Enforcing their religious views on employees, even if they turn out to have that right, is so morally wrong.

[–] phoenixz@lemmy.ca 30 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

You just gotta love that this place is called "liberty", a place where you're free to do whatever you want as look as you only do the things a tiny group of people allow you to do.

The one thing that really REALLY disgusts me beyond anything is just the sheer hypocrisy on the right / conservative side. They break all the rules, they commit all the crimes, and immediately turn around and accuse the "other side" of doing exactly what they just did, and then call themselves "liberty" or " law abiding" or some shit like that. It soooo grinds my gears...

If you're going to be evil, then at least fucking own it. At least call yourself a dictator, at least call yourself a religious terrorist. Say what you want about al Qaeda, but at least they know they're evil and they don't pretend to be a loving sweet group of happy campers.

[–] Don_alForno@feddit.org 12 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Say what you want about al Qaeda, but at least they know they're evil

I'm pretty sure they think they're the good guys.

Everybody is the hero in their own movie.

[–] kittenzrulz123@lemmy.blahaj.zone 24 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

On one hand fuck them for discriminating, on the other hand thats like getting fired from the proud boys as a Jew and being shocked.

[–] stoly@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I do see where you are coming from, but the overriding principle for me is that everyone has a right to freely express their identity in public and should not receive discrimination for it under any circumstances, even if they have a questionable choice in employers.

Obviously but it would seem easier to ban hate groups

[–] FundMECFSResearch@lemmy.blahaj.zone 22 points 2 weeks ago (4 children)

So I could make up a random relgion, which seems legal in the US (see scientology) and then I would be allowed to discriminate based on my religious beliefs which I totally made up.

That lawyer’s argument is crazy.

[–] Tin@lemmy.world 7 points 2 weeks ago

Why make up a religion, when you can join an already established one, and then foment a schism? The Church of the SubGenius welcomes all heretics.

[–] andros_rex@lemmy.world 7 points 2 weeks ago

In Oklahoma, you don’t even need a religion. Not wanting to employ trans people is a valid reason to be fired. I have lost garbage DAY LABOR gigs for being trans.

They also made it illegal to be a trans teacher, and no federal agency seems at all interested in looking into it. I’m surprised this woman has been able to get a lawsuit off - I’ve been looking for someone to take mine for three years!

[–] stoly@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

I mean the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster is a real church, so is the Church of the Dude. They are official and legally recognized religions. More than anything, you need a documented set of beliefs that you espouse and to register your organization.

[–] 01011@monero.town 12 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

I never quite understood what drives people to align with such institutions but I assume it's not for anything positive. It's okay for evangelical xtians to be unpleasant until you become the target has been my experience with such people.

[–] WoodScientist@lemmy.world 11 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Sometimes you just have to work at places that are hostile to trans people, and you just have to hope they don't find out you're trans. If the only place that you can find a job in your field is at a Christian College, maybe you'll accept the job and hope for the best. Potentially losing a job at some point in the future is better than not having a job today.

[–] 01011@monero.town 8 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I'm not trans so I can't speak to that particular demographic but I've found evangelical xtians to be deeply unpleasant to most people who deviate from what they perceive as the norm. I do everything possible to avoid being anywhere near them as a result.

[–] A_Random_Idiot@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

You'd suck that up real fast if you had no money and the only place in 6 months thats hiring in your field is a -tian college/school/church/etc.

Cause a persons gotta eat and pay bills.

[–] haulyard@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Gangster Capitalism has a great podcast series on Liberty University for those interested.

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