Attorney General Todd Rokita is co-leading 17 states in urging a federal appeals court to rule in favor of the religious liberty of a former Brownsburg High School teacher who resigned after refusing to use the preferred names and pronouns of transgender students, citing his sincerely held beliefs.
John Kluge, an orchestra teacher, initially received permission to address all students by their last names to avoid singling out transgender students. However, the school district later revoked this approval and required Kluge to use students' preferred names and pronouns.
Attorney General Rokita, with support from other attorneys general, is petitioning the 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals to overturn a lower court's decision that found accommodating Kluge's religious beliefs would cause "undue hardship" for the school district.
“By addressing all students by their last names, this teacher conscientiously worked to treat everyone equally and respectfully while also staying faithful to his own religious convictions,” Attorney General Rokita stated. “But no concession short of full surrender will placate the powerful forces devoted to making sure we all march in lockstep with the transanity agenda.”
School leaders rejected Kluge’s compromise due to litigation risks under Title IX and concerns about the educational environment. However, Attorney General Rokita argues that these concerns should not override First Amendment protections.
“Title IX does not mandate the use of a student’s preferred name or pronoun,” he said. “Nor does requiring use of preferred names and pronouns help schools fulfill their academic mission. To the contrary, kicking this teacher to the curb sends students the wrong messages about America’s heritage of respecting religion. And, at a time when teachers are in short supply, this kind of intolerance of faith among faculty members is sure to push additional good teachers out of the classroom.”
The amicus brief supporting this stance has been filed.
A headshot of Attorney General Rokita is available online.
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