useapen
2024-10-10 08:20:58 UTC
A Virginia teacher who refused to use a student's preferred pronouns
has been awarded $575,000 after filing a lawsuit against the former
school district he worked for more than five years ago, according to
court fillings and attorneys in the case.
High school teacher Peter Vlaming, who taught high school French in
West Point for about seven years, filed a $1 million lawsuit against
the West Point School Board in 2019 after his former employer fired
him, court documents show.
Vlaming, according to the suit filed in U.S. District Court for the
Eastern District of Virginia, avoided using he/him pronouns when
referring to a student who had transitioned and, instead, used the
students preferred name.
School leaders ordered him to stop avoiding the use of pronouns to
refer to the student, who had transitioned, and to start using the
student's preferred pronouns of he/him, according to previous local
media reports and the Alliance Defending Freedom, a non-profit legal
group.
School board to pay teacher; superintendent releases statement
Caleb Dalton, senior counsel at Alliance Defending Freedom, said the
West Point School Board agreed to pay $575,000 in damages and
attorneys fees. The settlement was signed by a judge on Monday.
West Point Public Schools Superintendent Larry L. Frazier Jr. said in a
statement issued to USA TODAY that the school system was pleased to
come to an agreement that will not have a negative impact on the
students, staff or school community of West Point.
The school has since adopted transgender policies issued by Virginia
Gov. Glenn Youngkin, the Washington Post reported.
The Republican governor's guidelines, handed down in 2022, reversed
some transgender protections and gave parents authority over whether a
student can change their preferred identity and name in school records,
USA TODAY previously reported.
"This is a key component of our 2023-2028 Strategic Plan," Frazier
wrote in the statement. "Specifically (one goal) focuses on 'Student &
Staff Wellbeing': To promote and nurture a culture of safety, security,
and overall wellness for students, staff, families, and the West Point
community."
Dalton, who framed the settlement as "a win for freedom of speech in
Virginia," told USA TODAY that public educators "shouldnt force
teachers to endorse beliefs they disagree with."
"No government should force its employees - or anyone else - to voice
their allegiance to an ideology that violates their deepest beliefs,"
Dalton said.
USA TODAY has reached out to the school board's attorneys in the case.
Dalton said West Point also cleared Vlamings firing from his record.
Vlaming is working for a French book publisher, his attorney said
Thursday.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/10/03/teacher-fired-
pronouns-virginia-lawsuit/75493851007/
has been awarded $575,000 after filing a lawsuit against the former
school district he worked for more than five years ago, according to
court fillings and attorneys in the case.
High school teacher Peter Vlaming, who taught high school French in
West Point for about seven years, filed a $1 million lawsuit against
the West Point School Board in 2019 after his former employer fired
him, court documents show.
Vlaming, according to the suit filed in U.S. District Court for the
Eastern District of Virginia, avoided using he/him pronouns when
referring to a student who had transitioned and, instead, used the
students preferred name.
School leaders ordered him to stop avoiding the use of pronouns to
refer to the student, who had transitioned, and to start using the
student's preferred pronouns of he/him, according to previous local
media reports and the Alliance Defending Freedom, a non-profit legal
group.
School board to pay teacher; superintendent releases statement
Caleb Dalton, senior counsel at Alliance Defending Freedom, said the
West Point School Board agreed to pay $575,000 in damages and
attorneys fees. The settlement was signed by a judge on Monday.
West Point Public Schools Superintendent Larry L. Frazier Jr. said in a
statement issued to USA TODAY that the school system was pleased to
come to an agreement that will not have a negative impact on the
students, staff or school community of West Point.
The school has since adopted transgender policies issued by Virginia
Gov. Glenn Youngkin, the Washington Post reported.
The Republican governor's guidelines, handed down in 2022, reversed
some transgender protections and gave parents authority over whether a
student can change their preferred identity and name in school records,
USA TODAY previously reported.
"This is a key component of our 2023-2028 Strategic Plan," Frazier
wrote in the statement. "Specifically (one goal) focuses on 'Student &
Staff Wellbeing': To promote and nurture a culture of safety, security,
and overall wellness for students, staff, families, and the West Point
community."
Dalton, who framed the settlement as "a win for freedom of speech in
Virginia," told USA TODAY that public educators "shouldnt force
teachers to endorse beliefs they disagree with."
"No government should force its employees - or anyone else - to voice
their allegiance to an ideology that violates their deepest beliefs,"
Dalton said.
USA TODAY has reached out to the school board's attorneys in the case.
Dalton said West Point also cleared Vlamings firing from his record.
Vlaming is working for a French book publisher, his attorney said
Thursday.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/10/03/teacher-fired-
pronouns-virginia-lawsuit/75493851007/