Liberty University Fined $14M for Clery Act Violations
WIKIMEDIA COMMONS / Northern-Virginia-Photographer

A former Liberty University employee has filed a lawsuit against the private Christian institution, alleging she was terminated after revealing she was transgender.

The lawsuit, filed Monday by the ACLU of Virginia, claims the Lynchburg-based university violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

According to the complaint, Ellenor Zinski, who was hired for the university's IT help desk in February 2023 under the name Jonathan Zinski, received "positive marks" on her 90-day review in June. Shortly thereafter, Zinski informed the human resources department that she identified as a transgender woman, was undergoing hormone replacement therapy, and would be legally changing her name to Ellenor.

The following month, Zinski was allegedly notified by senior officials that her employment was terminated immediately due to her transition and gender identity.

"Liberty University officials read a termination notice aloud to Ellenor citing 'denying biological and chromosomal sex assigned at birth' as the basis for her termination, stating a conflict with Liberty's Doctrinal Statement that names 'denial of birth sex by self-identification with a different gender' as a 'sinful act prohibited by God,'" the ACLU said in a statement. "But Liberty University's doctrinal statement does not exempt it from federal law."

"No one should be fired because of who they are - but Liberty University made it clear that's exactly why it fired Ellenor," ACLU attorney Wyatt Rolla said.

When reached on Tuesday, Zinski referred further comment on the lawsuit to her attorney. Rolla and a Liberty University spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Zinski is seeking $300,000 in damages, back pay and that she be reinstated into her former position. The lawsuit is also seeking judgment that Liberty University's policy violates the Civil Rights Act.

Topics Liberty university, Virginia, Transgender, Lawsuit, Civil rights