The Wisconsin English teacher, Jordan Cernek, argues in the suit that the district violated his freedom of religion and free speech in mandating the use of the students’ preferred names and pronouns.
This’ll be something to watch. Here’s a snippet:
A high school English teacher is suing a Wisconsin school district, alleging it did not renew his contract last year because he refused to use the preferred names of two transgender students.
Jordan Cernek’s federal lawsuit alleges the Argyle School District violated his constitutional and civil rights to be free of religious discrimination and to be able to express himself according to his religious beliefs when it did not renew his contract because he refused to abide by a requirement that teachers use the names or pronouns requested by students.
“The district policy would force me to go against my conviction and commitment to God,” Cernek said in a statement from his lawyers. “I did everything within my power to accommodate the needs of my students without compromising my faith.”
The suit, which argues that the non-renewal was tantamount to firing the teacher, repeatedly cites the 1964 Civil Rights Act and its Title VII section prohibiting workplace discrimination.
Filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin last month, it seeks undisclosed damages, attorney fees and a declaration that the district violated Cernek’s First Amendment rights and his rights to nondiscrimination based on race, religion, sex or national origin.
School Superintendent Randy Refsland said in an email Tuesday night that he could not comment because the matter was being litigated in court. (snip-More)
Scottie's Playtime 
Hi. Ali I never understood how being kind and considerate of a fellow human no mater if a child or adult is against god’s orders? How is using a pronoun someone asked you to call them a sin against god. I missed that commandment that reads you shall only use pronouns assigned at birth. Names are also not masculine or feminine in themselves and are more a cultural assignment. If it is wrong to change your name than god made Abram sin by changing his name to Abraham. Do Christian bigots even read the bible? Billie Joe could be boy or girl as could Sandy among others. Names are just word sounds we use to know who we are talking to, they have no gender power. But this doesn’t make you a good Christian to refuse to treat others decently, it shows who you really are. They are bigots who dislike something they don’t understand and don’t want others to do therefor they use their god to pretend their hate comes from a higher power. Hugs. Scottie
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I am not aware of how using names people prefer is against anything Jesus every spoke, nor even against the big 10. I was always taught that it’s Christian to be loving, and courteous. It’s only courteous to use people’s names as they indicate they prefer. Sort of like I think most of us here were brought up to call people Miss, Mrs., and Mr. Surname when we were children, and even beyond, until we were invited to use first names. It was a matter of respect. I am not aware of when that convention-referring to other people respectfully-was overturned for religion. I’m pretty sure the Bibles haven’t been changed to reflect that, but who knows. I still have the same Revised KJ I had when I was confirmed in the early 70s. sigh
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Hi Ali. Thank you. I am reminded of my own situation when the name thing comes up. I have a birth name of Scott … ………. but I was never allowed to even breathe my middle name as that was somehow forbidden. I later learned it was the name of my real father. Every other male in the family went by their middle name and when I tried to do so I was beaten and told never to say it again. Now I understand why.
But in truth the adopting family never used my given name Scott, they called me a name I will never repeat I hate it do much. I guess they could change my parents but not my name on my birth certificate but it again made me the odd one out. But I changed Scott to Scottie, spelled my way as soon as I left their control. I like it better now. They wouldn’t even let me learn how to spell my middle name that I still struggle to spell to this day. I have to do it phonetically.
The night I said I wanted to go by it like the other males, the adoptive father grabbed his plate full of food, slammed it down on the table breaking it, grabbed the adopting mother’s plate full of food and used it to hit me across my face / head. As I lay on the ground he came around the table grabbed me and threw me into the wall hitting me.
(I think I might have been 10 or 12), promising to kill me if I ever said that name again. That night he raped me. I still to this day struggle with that name. I made the mistake of spelling it out on my driver’s license and every time I see it I about throw up. I wish I could change it but I guess it is there on that thing forever. Thanks for letting me share. I really have to stop doing this, as wonderful people like you do not need to hear about my childhood. Hugs. Scottie.
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You know, Scottie, there’s nothing wrong with you sharing your history on your own blog, to your friends. No worries. I hate that those things happened to you, and I’m angry at the lack of resources and will in other adults available for help for children in your situation, especially in the years this was happening to you (it is somewhat better now, but not perfect.) But I don’t mind reading this, other than that. There are some things that we just don’t forget, even if they’re not at the tops of our minds all the time. But some things are going to bring them back. It helps you to get them out, and I think it’s great that you do.
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