California’s Jurupa School District has agreed to a settlement of $360,000 in a lawsuit filed by former gym teacher Jessica Tapia, who alleged she was terminated for her religious beliefs. Tapia, who was fired in January 2023, claimed that the district’s gender-identity policies clashed with her Christian convictions.
This is how you win. ššššš
You DON'T Back down.
Congrats Ms. Jessica Tapia for refusing to bow down to these controlling psychotic tyrants.
California district TO PAY $360K to teacher fired for not following transgender policies.
Jessica sued the school forā¦ pic.twitter.com/96Tzsz1OY1
— Denise (@Likeshesays) May 17, 2024
The settlement, finalized on Tuesday, includes $285,000 for Tapia and $75,000 to cover her legal fees. The lawsuit, brought forth by Advocates for Faith & Freedom, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting religious liberty, asserted that Tapia’s dismissal was unjust due to her religious beliefs.
According to the complaint, Tapia refused to comply with directives such as addressing students by their preferred pronouns and allowing them to use facilities corresponding to their gender identity ā declaring that she would not allow boys in the girlsā locker room. She also faced allegations of discussing religion on social media, which she denies, arguing that she did not identify herself as a district employee on her accounts.
šŗšø California is a basket case.
Jessica Tapia, a former high school PE teacher in California, got fired for saying:
"Iām a PE teacher. I oversee a locker room. I will not be allowing biological males into the female locker room.ā pic.twitter.com/0b90f3f2aO
— Frantruth š¬š§ (@frantruth) June 13, 2023
The district maintained that settling the case was in the best interest of students and denied any wrongdoing. Despite the settlement, Tapia is now prohibited from seeking employment within the district.
Reacting to the settlement, Mariah Gondeiro, vice president of Advocates for Faith & Freedom, emphasized the importance of protecting religious freedom in all careers. “People of faith should be allowed to maintain their personal beliefs without fear of losing their job,” she stated. āJessica Tapia was not dismissed for any wrongdoing, rather, she was dismissed for her Christian beliefs. This is a clear violation of our Constitutional rights.ā
Julianne Fleischer, legal counsel for the organization, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the significance of the settlement as a defense of religious liberties in professional settings.
Tapia, who had been with the school for over two decades, expressed her hope that her case would encourage others to stand up for their beliefs. “What happened to me can happen to anybody, and I want the next teacher to know that it is worth it to take a stand for what is right,” she remarked.
Tapia’s case underscores ongoing debates surrounding religious freedom and LGBTQ+ rights in educational institutions, raising questions about the balance between personal convictions and institutional policies.
