A former high school teacher in Virginia will soon collect a settlement of nearly $600,000 after he was fired for refusing to address female students by male pronouns.
Peter Vlaming taught French for nearly seven years in West Point, Virginia, a city of about 3,400 people located about 40 miles east of Richmond. In the fall of 2018, Vlaming learned that a female student she knew was enrolled in a French II course.
The girl, identified in court documents as “John Doe,” had apparently accepted the use of a French female name and feminine pronouns in previous interactions, but by the time she arrived at French II. Vlaming said he learned what she “wanted.” It should be called by a more culturally masculine name.” court documents Said.
Vraming espouses the religious belief that “sex is fixed within each person and cannot be changed, regardless of our feelings or desires,” and has completely changed her pronouns to refer to her. I tried to be considerate of the student by avoiding and instead calling her by either her masculine English or French name.
This alternative clearly did not sit well with students' parents and school administrators.
The parent told Vlaming, “You should leave your principles and beliefs out of this and look to the next thing.” [Doe] As a man,” the document said.
Vice Principal Suzanne Aunspach then told Vlaming that “personal religious beliefs end at the school door” whenever they conflict with school policy, and Principal Jonathan Hochman later said Vlaming had inadvertently made a slip. It was recommended that Vraming be placed on administrative leave because he referred to Tedo as “.” She said “to her” during class, but did not apologize in a way that would satisfy Hockman.
In a subsequent conversation with then-Superintendent Laura Abel, Vlaming asserted that she could not in good conscience use masculine pronouns in reference to Doe, but that she intended to continue using her chosen masculine name. .
Abel then sent him a letter explicitly instructing Doe to use masculine pronouns. When he still refused, she recommended he be fired for violating the district's policy regarding “harassment or retaliation against students or others based on their gender identity.”
The West Point School Board followed her recommendations, refused to use preferred pronouns, and voted to fire Mr. Vlaming for insubordination.
“Peter wasn't fired for saying something; he was fired for something. couldn't do it say. The school board violated his First Amendment rights under the Virginia Constitution and federal law. ”
In September 2019, Vlaming sued the school district, alleging that the school district breached her contract and violated her free speech, free exercise, and due process rights. With the help of the religious freedom legal group Alliance Defending Freedom, Vlaming's case moved through Virginia's judicial system.
Mr. Vlaming endured a setback when a lower court dismissed his case, but last December the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Virginia Constitution provides for “diversity of thought, diversity of speech, diversity of religion, diversity of opinion.” The lawsuit was reinstated, ruling that “the purpose is to protect.”
On Monday, the Alliance Defending Freedom announced that Vlaming and the district had reached a settlement. The school district will pay Mr. Vlaming $575,000 in damages and attorney's fees and have his termination removed from his record.
Current Superintendent Larry Frazier confirmed the settlement. washington times. “I am pleased that we were able to reach a resolution that does not negatively impact West Point students, staff, and the school community,” Frazier wrote in an email.
So far, Vlaming seems satisfied with the outcome of the hard-fought battle.
“I was unfairly terminated from my teaching position because my religious beliefs put me on a collision course with school administrators who require teachers to: only their preferred perspective on gender identity,” Vlaming said in a statement, according to the report. ADF. “I loved teaching French and tried to be polite to all the students in my class, but I couldn't say anything that would directly go against my conscience.
“I am extremely grateful for the work of the lawyers at Alliance Defending Freedom in helping me win my case, which will help protect the fundamental First Amendment rights of all other teachers and professors. I hope so.”
ADF Senior Counsel Tyson Langhofer similarly welcomed the court's ruling and settlement.
“Peter wasn’t fired for what he said, he was fired for what he said.” couldn't do it say. “The school board violated their First Amendment rights under the Virginia Constitution and federal law,” Langhofer said in a statement.
”[Vlaming] “No school board or government official can in good conscience speak a message that they know is not true, and no school board or government official can punish someone for that,” Langhofer said in a statement, adding: We are pleased to be able to resolve this case favorably on Peter's behalf and hope that others will do so as well.” Government and school officials will focus on the high costs of not respecting Americans' constitutionally protected freedoms. ”
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