The Virginia Supreme Court ruled Thursday that it would reinstate a lawsuit alleging the West Point School Board unlawfully fired a teacher for violating West Point schools’ anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies.
Peter Vlaming, who taught French at West Point High School before he was fired in December 2018, has said he could not in good conscience use a transgender student’s preferred pronouns because he said it would have violated his religious beliefs. He said his Christian faith prevented him from using male pronouns for a student he saw as female.
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Vlaming agreed to use the student’s new, male name. But he tried to avoid using any pronouns — he or him, and she or her — when referring to the student. The student said that made him feel uncomfortable and singled out.
School administrators sided with the student, telling Vlaming he could not treat the transgender pupil differently than he treats others.