INDIANA- Attorney General Todd Rokita is co-leading 17 states in asking a federal appeals court to rule in favor of the religious liberty of a former Brownsburg High School teacher forced to resign because he declined to use the preferred names and pronouns of transgender students — an action that violated the teacher’s sincerely held beliefs.
John Kluge, who taught orchestra, was originally permitted to call all his students by their last names so transgender students would not feel singled out. The school district, however, withdrew its initial approval and insisted Kluge use students’ preferred names and pronouns.
Leveraging the voices of like-minded attorneys general from other states to empower parents, Attorney General Rokita is asking the 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals to overturn a lower court’s ruling that the school district could not accommodate Kluge’s religious beliefs without experiencing “undue hardship.”
“By addressing all students by their last names, this teacher conscientiously worked to treat everyone equally and respectfully while also staying faithful to his own religious convictions,” Attorney General Rokita said. “But no concession short of full surrender will placate the powerful forces devoted to making sure we all march in lockstep with the transanity agenda.”
In rejecting Kluge’s attempts at a compromise, school leaders cited litigation risks under Title IX and concern for the educational environment. Such concerns, however, should not override the First Amendment’s protection of religious liberty in this case.
“Title IX does not mandate the use of a student’s preferred name or pronoun,” Attorney General Rokita said. “Nor does requiring use of preferred names and pronouns help schools fulfill their academic mission. To the contrary, kicking this teacher to the curb sends students the wrong messages about America’s heritage of respecting religion. And, at a time when teachers are in short supply, this kind of intolerance of faith among faculty members is sure to push additional good teachers out of the classroom.”
