A California school district has agreed to settle a lawsuit with Jessica Tapia, a teacher who claims she was terminated due to her religious beliefs after she refused to use students’ preferred pronouns.
The Jurupa Unified School District in Riverside County will pay Tapia $360,000, according to a May 14 press release from Advocates for Faith & Freedom, her attorneys.
The settlement concludes a federal lawsuit Tapia filed last May, which alleged that the district’s actions violated her civil and First Amendment rights.
Tapia’s refusal to use preferred pronouns and her concern about not disclosing students’ gender identities to their parents were central to the dispute.
“Today’s settlement serves as a reminder that religious freedom is protected, no matter your career,” said Julianne Fleischer, one of Tapia’s attorneys, in the press release.
Although the district settled the case on May 13, it did not admit any fault or wrongdoing, stated district spokesperson Jacqueline Paul.
“The decision to settle this case was made in conjunction with the District’s self-insurance authority and in the best interest of the students, to allow the District to focus on educating and supporting its student population,” Paul added.
Termination Following Social Media Controversy
Tapia, a physical education teacher at Jurupa Valley High School since 2014, was placed on administrative leave at the end of the 2021-2022 school year after her personal Instagram posts were reported to the district.
These posts were deemed “racist, offensive, disrespectful, and mocking towards individuals based upon their sexual orientation,” according to the lawsuit.
The district also accused Tapia of “proselytizing during P.E. class” and refusing to use students’ preferred pronouns. In late September 2022, Tapia received a “Notice of Unprofessional Conduct,” detailing directives she needed to follow to retain her job.
These included using students’ preferred pronouns, allowing students to use the bathroom matching their gender identity, and refraining from discussing the Bible with students.
Due to the stress caused by these directives, Tapia took medical leave until December 2022. She argued that the conditions conflicted with her Christian faith, causing her severe mental and emotional anguish.
In December 2022, Tapia informed the district of specific directives she could not follow due to her religious beliefs, including the use of preferred pronouns.
“The lies and confusion that children are fed in terms of ‘you aren’t who you were created to be’ is based in evil and I will not take part in that,” Tapia wrote.
Upon returning in January 2023, Tapia requested accommodations, such as using the names on the school roster or transferring to a different position where she would not interact with students.
The district denied her requests, stating that accommodating them would violate California and federal laws designed to protect students from discrimination and harassment. Tapia was subsequently terminated.
Settlement and Aftermath
Tapia’s attorney, Fleischer, praised her client’s determination to hold the district accountable and prevent future discrimination against teachers.
“What happened to me can happen to anybody, and I want the next teacher to know that it is worth it to take a stand for what is right,” Tapia said in the release.
Jacqueline Paul clarified that the settlement precludes Tapia from seeking future employment with the district.
“The settlement is not a win for Ms. Tapia but a compromise of a disputed claim. It does not prove any illegal action or discrimination by the District,” Paul emphasized.
A June 2022 report from the UCLA School of Law’s Williams Institute estimated that 1.4% of 13- to 17-year-olds identified as transgender, highlighting the ongoing challenges and legal considerations in educational settings.
