Virginia teacher wins $575K in religious freedom settlement

A Virginia teacher has been awarded $575,000 following a lawsuit over being fired for refusing to use a transgender student’s pronouns.

After teaching in the West Point School District for seven years, Peter Vlaming faced an impossible conundrum: violate his religious beliefs or be fired.

“I loved teaching French and gracefully tried to accommodate every student in my class, but I couldn’t say something that directly violated my conscience,” Vlaming said in a press release. 

He agreed to call a transgender student by their chosen name but refused to call them by biologically incorrect pronouns. 

“I was wrongfully fired from my teaching job because my religious beliefs put me on a collision course with school administrators who mandated that teachers ascribe to only one perspective on gender identity – their preferred view,” Vlaming continued. 

Vlaming filed a lawsuit in September 2019 with the help of Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), claiming the violation of his First Amendment rights. 

In December 2023, the Virginia Supreme Court ruled in his favor. 

“[I]f liberty means anything at all,” Justice D. Arthur Kelsey wrote, “it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear… All the more, it means the right to disagree without speaking at all.” 

In its settlement, the West Point district gave Vlaming $575,000, expunged his firing from his record, and paid his attorney fees. It also updated district policies. 

West Point Superintendent Larry Frazier said the district was satisfied with the settlement.  

“We are pleased to be able to reach a resolution that will not have a negative impact on the students, staff or school community of West Point,” he said.  

Meanwhile, ADF celebrated a dual win for religious freedom and free speech.  

“Peter wasn’t fired for something he said; he was fired for something he couldn’t say. The school board violated his First Amendment rights under the Virginia Constitution and commonwealth law,” said Tyson Langhofer, senior counsel with ADF. “[Vlaming] couldn’t in good conscience speak messages that he knew were untrue, and no school board or government official can punish someone for that reason. 

“We’re pleased to favorably settle this case on behalf of Peter and hope other government and school officials will take note of the high cost involved in failing to respect an American’s constitutionally protected freedoms.”