Trans Woman Sues University, Alleging Discrimination Over Firing
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.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump famously visited the institution during the Republican's 2016 campaign trail.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.Wyatt Rolla, senior transgender rights attorney for ACLU Virginia, said Liberty's portrayal of Zinski's hiring as a "set up" was unfounded."It's strange to disparage Ellenor over what.
