The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit has revived the case of Brownsburg High School music teacher John Kluge. In keeping with his Christian faith, Kluge declined to use students’ chosen names and pronouns. The Indiana school district initially accommodated him by allowing the use of last names, similar to how a coach addresses players, but later reversed course after a few isolated complaints.
That left Kluge with an impossible choice: override his deeply held beliefs or lose a job that he loved.
The court ruled that whether this reasonable accommodation created an “undue burden” on the school’s business is a question for a jury. If the jury finds that Kluge was treated unfairly, the district could be held accountable and required to pay damages and attorney’s fees.
Title VII requires employers to accommodate employees’ faith unless it causes a serious business hardship. The Seventh Circuit rightly recognized that complaints alone are not enough to erase those rights.
As the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Groff v. DeJoy and now Kluge show, federal courts are reaffirming a vital principle: religious freedom does not end when you enter the workplace.
Read more here: 7th Circuit: Indiana Music Teacher Can Take His Case to a Jury