A California Christian physical education teacher was allegedly fired for refusing to lie to parents about their children’s gender identities at school and rejecting having males in female locker rooms – both policies that violate her faith beliefs, Fox News Digital reported Wednesday.
Christian teacher loses job after refusing to deceive parents on kids' gender transitions: 'From the devil' https://t.co/pG6ceU4z8G
— Fox News (@FoxNews) February 15, 2023
Jessica Tapias shared with Fox News Digital the notice she received from the office of Jurupa Unified School District Superintendent Trenton Hansen.
Tapias said she was fired for refusing to comply with her district’s gender policies that state “students have privacy” from their parents.
“And so if a student shares information regarding a pronoun preference or thinking they may be the opposite gender of what they biologically are, if they share that information with a teacher, we are supposed to keep that info from parents in case the parent doesn’t know,” she reportedly stated.
“And there’s so many issues with that,” she added. “How do we know the parent doesn’t know? Number two, …we’re talking [about] 12, 13, 14, 15-year-olds. I don’t believe [kids] should have this ‘privacy’ to where their parents are being left in the dark about some very pertinent information about their well-being.”
Tapias also reportedly refused to comply with the district’s policy regarding the use of locker rooms and gender identity, and did not allow individuals with “male genitals” into the girls’ locker room.
“Based on your religious beliefs, you cannot be dishonest with parents… If asked about a student’s gender identity by a parent, you cannot refer the parent to a counselor, defer the inquiry and suggest they speak with a student…, or otherwise deflect the parent’s inquiry,” the letter, signed by Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Daniel Brooks. reportedly said to Tapias.
“The district cannot accommodate your religious beliefs that… prohibit you from maintaining a student’s gender identity and refraining from disclosing a student’s gender identity from his/her/their parent(s)/guardians,” Brooks continued.
“Consequentially, the District will release you from your employment effective at the end of the day on January 31, 2023,” the notice said.
“I don’t believe in my faith that that’s how God’s calling us to love by affirming those lies and confusion,” Tapias said. “I believe firmly that God created man and woman, and you are who he made you to be. And when someone has confusion about that, I believe that’s lies and confusion from the devil.”
The teacher added she ultimately had to make a choice.
“I essentially had to pick one,” she told Fox News Digital. “Am I going to obey the district in the directives that are not lining up with… my own beliefs, convictions and faith? Or am I going to stay true… choose my faith, choose to be obedient to… the way the Lord has called me to live.”
Tapias said she found it “crazy” to have to choose between being “a Christian and a teacher.”
The Star News Network reached out to Jurupa Unified Superintendent Trenton Hansen’s office for comment and is awaiting a response.
Fox News Digital reported the school district denied it discriminated against Tapias based on her faith beliefs:
The District denies the allegations raised by Ms. Tapia. The District takes seriously its obligation to accommodate its employee’s religious beliefs. Simultaneously, the District is obligated to comply with all local, state, and federal laws, including anti-discrimination laws and laws that protect students’ rights to privacy, which are in place to protect the nearly 2,500 employees and 18,000 students we serve. We cannot comment further on personnel matters.
Fox News Digital also reportedly asked the district about “the accusation outlined by Tapias that educators should lie to parents about students’ gender identities,” and noted, “they did not directly respond”:
The District is required to comply with all state and federal laws, including the California Education Code which guarantees a student’s right to participate in sex-segregated school activities and to use facilities consistent with the student’s gender identity, regardless of the gender listed on the student’s records. The District is also obligated to protect a student’s right to privacy which is guaranteed by state and federal antidiscrimination laws and the California Constitution. The District will continue to protect the rights of all students and staff as required by law.
According to the report, Tapias has retained the services of an attorney and intends to file a lawsuit once she receives a “right to sue letter from the [U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission].”
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Susan Berry, PhD, is national education editor at The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected]
