ACLU files lawsuit accusing Liberty University of firing worker for being transgender

LYNCHBURG, Va. (WSET) — A transgender woman named Ellenor Zinski worked at Liberty University as an IT specialist, saying her supervisor even told her she was on the "path to success" with her work.

But that path fell out from under her feet when she was fired a month after telling Liberty she was trans.

That's according to the lawsuit the ACLU filed on her behalf.

On July 29 the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia filed, accusing the school of firing Zinski in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title VII protects employees from facing discrimination in the workplace based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin. The ACLU claims Liberty "made it clear" that she was fired for being transgender.

“Workplace discrimination against transgender people is against the law, and it’s especially telling that Liberty University sees a practicing Christian’s gender identity as so antithetical to its mission that it was willing to flout the law in order to cast out one of its own," said ACLU of Virginia Senior Transgender Rights Attorney Wyatt Rolla.

The job termination dates back to 2023, three months after Zinski was hired to work at the IT Helpdesk, according to the lawsuit. The suit describes those months as a period of anxiety for Zinski, who was worried she would face repercussions for being trans.

SEE ALSO: Settlement reached between Jerry Falwell Jr. and Liberty University

"Ellenor’s anxiety about being discriminated against at work was so intense that she sometimes vomited," the lawsuit said. "She used a tucked-away bathroom whose hallway’s exposed insulation meant it was rarely trafficked, and even during hot weather, she wore a branded Liberty jacket to deflect unwanted attention to her body."

Those fears about discrimination came to a head about a month after she said she informed Human Resources that she identified as a trans woman and planned to legally change her name. Then, after what the lawsuit said was over a month of no response, she was called into a meeting with the heads of Liberty's HR and IT departments.

"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 lawsuit said.

Those grounds for termination of a job are illegal, the ACLU says.

“No matter your religious beliefs, it’s illegal sex discrimination to fire employees because of their sexual orientation or gender identity,” said ACLU of Virginia Dunn Legal Fellow Samantha Westrum. “Just because Liberty University has decided it wants to operate by a so-called ‘doctrinal statement’ doesn’t mean it’s not bound by federal law."

Zinski said she is a Christian herself and attends a local place called Trinity Episcopal Church where she feels welcome both as a Christian and as a transgender woman.

“The first time anyone ever supported me by telling me that God made me this way was at Trinity Episcopal Church,” Zinski said. “Christianity has been so weaponized against the LGBTQ community, but there doesn’t need to be a conflict: You can be transgender and Christian. I am.”

The ACLU said in the lawsuit they are seeking compensatory and punitive damages on Zinski's behalf. On top of that, the lawsuit wants "declaratory relief that Liberty University’s policy violates Title VII."

According to the lawsuit, Zinski is seeking the following:

• Appropriate declaratory relief declaring the acts and practices complained of herein in violation of Title VII
• An award of compensatory and punitive damages in the amount of $300,000, plus back-pay damages, with pre-judgment interest at the prevailing rate
• Equitable relief including reinstatement, or front pay in lieu of same
• Award of reasonable attorney's fees and costs, including expert witness fees expended
• Further relief to which Plaintiff may show she is justly entitled

According to the ACLU, Zinski is also asking for a jury trial.

ABC13 has reached out to Liberty University for a statement regarding the lawsuit. A spokesperson for the school said there is "no comment as of yet on the most recent development."