Trans Woman Sues University, Alleging Discrimination Over Firing

A transgender woman is suing her former employer for allegedly firing her after she disclosed her gender identity.
Ellenor Zinski says evangelical Christian institution Liberty University, based in Lynchburg, Virginia, dismissed her from her IT help desk position after she wrote to them about her transition.
The lawsuit, filed in July by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Virginia and the Richmond firm Butler Curwood, claims their conduct is in violation of the U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Zinski joined Liberty, one of the largest Christian universities in the world, in 2023.
Founded by televangelist Jerry Falwell Sr., the college has long adhered to evangelical beliefs. President-elect Donald Trump famously visited the institution during his 2016 campaign.
Zinski says she grew up admiring the university and was raised as a conservative Christian, hoping that Liberty would “work with [her]” on her transition.
“I was really hoping I could be myself,” she said.
Liberty’s conservative stance on LGBTQ+ issues is central to its defense.
The university’s legal team, represented by Liberty Counsel, filed a motion earlier this month seeking dismissal of the lawsuit, counter-citing a religious exemption under the Civil Rights Act.
Liberty Counsel contends that the law allows religious institutions to make employment decisions in alignment with their doctrines, and Liberty’s policies identify “self-identification with a different gender” as a sin.
They cited her denial of “biological and chromosomal sex assigned at birth” as the basis for her termination.
Counsel Chairman Mat Staver described Zinski’s actions as a deliberate attempt to challenge the university’s policies, alleging she only applied for the position four months after beginning to take female hormones.
“All of this was done to set Liberty up and attempt to make an example out of the university,” he said.
Zinski’s legal team disputes that claim.
Wyatt Rolla, senior transgender rights attorney for ACLU Virginia, said Liberty’s portrayal of Zinski’s hiring as a “setup” was unfounded.
“It’s strange to disparage Ellenor over what turned out to be a real concern with employment discrimination,” Rolla said. “No one should be fired because of who they are, but Liberty University made it clear that’s exactly why it fired Ellenor,” they added.
Zinski formally disclosed her transition in a July 2023 letter to the university, expressing her commitment to her Christian faith and to handling the process “with sensitivity and respect for all parties involved.”
After four weeks without a response, she faced rising anxiety.
When she inquired about her status, she was summoned to a meeting where she was informed of her termination. Senior staff read aloud an email at the meeting, stating that “active and unrepentant patterns of sin, including sinful behaviors regarding sexual expression and/or gender expression, would be incompatible with [Liberty’s] Christian workplace.”
Within a few months of her firing, Zinski secured a similar IT role at the nearby University of Lynchburg, a private institution affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), which promotes inclusive spiritual practices.
Zinski reports a supportive work environment and finds community at Lynchburg’s Trinity Episcopal Church.
Reflecting on her experience there, she firmly believes “God made me this way.”
“Christianity has been so weaponized against the LGBTQ community, but there doesn’t need to be a conflict: you can be transgender and Christian. I am.”
Zinski’s lawsuit seeks $300,000 in compensatory and punitive damages, as well as a declaration from the court that Liberty University’s actions violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
Daniel Schmid, a Liberty Counsel lawyer, said a hearing on the motion to dismiss may occur by the end of the year, though appeals could prolong the case, resulting in it being passed to the Supreme Court.
“Liberty considers them to be ministers of the Gospel,” he said. “The First Amendment protects their right to make that call.”
This article includes reporting from the Associated Press
Update 11/11/24, 3:20 p.m. ET: This article previously referred to Wyatt Rolla, Ellenor Zinski’s legal representative, using male pronouns. Rolla uses they/them pronouns, and the article has been changed to reflect this.