Teachers Fired for Opposing ‘Transgender’ Education Policy Asked the Ninth Circuit to Protect Their Rights

Grants Pass, Oregon, is back in the news.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled in 2023 that the city’s law fining homeless people for sleeping on government property violated the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition against “cruel and unusual punishments” because the city didn’t have enough beds in homeless shelters.

But the Ninth Circuit didn’t include religious homeless shelters in its determination. In April, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in the case. Becket Law submitted an amicus brief explaining that the appeals court relied on a misguided legal standard.

The Ninth Circuit just heard arguments in a different case involving religion.

Katie Medart and Rachel Sager were teachers in Grants Pass School District 7. They started a grassroots movement called “I Resolve” to advocate for the freedom to speak out against “gender identity” education policy and “offer solutions that would allow teachers to continue teaching without violating their conscience and that would respect the rights of parents.”

But school district officials didn’t appreciate their freedom of religion and expression. After the teachers posted a video about the movement on their own website, officials suspended them. Then they fired them. Medart and Sager filed a lawsuit.

After a lower court ruled against them, the teachers appealed. Alliance Defending Freedom and the Pacific Justice Institute, Medart’s and Sager’s legal counsel, argued their case before the Ninth Circuit this week.

The two educators received overwhelming support from a number of free speech advocates, a feminist group, and medical professionals who care for children.
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“Educators who advocate for common sense and parental involvement should be applauded, not punished,” said Brad Dacus, president and founder of PJI. “We are privileged to stand alongside these brave educators and continue fighting for them at the Ninth Circuit.”

Photo credit: Alliance Defending Freedom