A man from Wisconsin, Spencer Wimmer, is seeking intervention from the Trump administration after claiming he was dismissed from his job for refusing to use a pronoun that contradicts his biological sex.
While the Trump administration has taken steps to reduce workplace mandates surrounding gender identity, Wimmer, who is a committed Christian, asserts that people are still facing discrimination related to these policies.
He filed a religious discrimination complaint through the Wisconsin Law Liberty Institute and has reached out to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), expressing hope that President Donald Trump can assist him.
In a conversation with Fox News Digital, Wimmer shared that he had been a “model employee” for five years at Generac, receiving several positive performance reviews and promotions. He anticipated a lengthy and successful career there.
This changed abruptly when he encountered an HR issue related to using a colleague’s preferred pronoun.
Wimmer maintains that his refusal stems from his deeply held biblical belief in only two genders, asserting that one cannot transition between them.
He mentioned that he had previously worked alongside transgender individuals and developed a productive relationship with one. However, after he clarified to HR that he could not use the preferred pronouns of a transgender coworker, he was reprimanded for being “non-professional.”
According to Wimmer’s attorney, a Generac HR representative told him that his request to avoid using those pronouns for religious reasons was without merit. He received written disciplinary action stating that his refusal breached the company’s code of conduct and harassment policy.
On April 2, Wimmer was terminated from his position as a supervisor at Generac Power Systems, following a month during which he felt targeted and bullied due to his beliefs.
He recalled being escorted out without the chance to gather his belongings, calling the experience “heartbreaking.”
“I was forced to choose between my livelihood and my faith,” Wimmer remarked, describing it as an emotional ordeal.
In his EEOC complaint, Wimmer’s attorney contends that Generac contravened Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which safeguards against discrimination based on various categories, including religion.
Despite no harassment complaints against him, the attorney maintains that Wimmer’s rights were violated.
Carla Toliver, Wimmer’s lawyer, suggested that this case might resonate with a wider audience across the U.S. She referenced a recent Supreme Court decision that could impact how employers enforce gender identity policies in relation to employees’ religious beliefs.
“It seems that employers are navigating a landscape filled with identity politics, particularly concerning gender identity,” Toliver observed. She emphasized that while Title VII offers some protections, it does not replace the illegality of religious discrimination.
Wimmer stated that he “never put Generac in a position where they had to choose between me and anyone else.” He expressed a belief that a compromise was possible to maintain a professional atmosphere but lamented that such compromise is often viewed as unacceptable in certain organizations.
In response to inquiries from Fox News Digital, a spokesperson for Generac did not comment further.
