A physician assistant who was dismissed after requesting religious accommodations relating to the use of preferred pronouns and referrals for gender-transition procedures has reached a settlement with her former employer, it was announced on July 29.
Valerie Kloosterman, who worked at University of Michigan Health-West (UMHW) for 17 years with what her legal representatives described as an “exemplary” performance record, was dismissed in August 2021 after requesting a religious accommodation “from affirming statements that violated her Christian faith and her medical judgment”.
Kloosterman did not wish to refer patients for what First Liberty Institute described as “gender reassignment” drugs or surgeries, nor did she wish to participate in mandatory training on gender identity, according to a press release issued by the religious liberty law firm. She also said she would not use pronouns that did not correspond with a patient's biological sex and would instead address patients by their first names.
According to First Liberty Institute, one of Kloosterman’s colleagues described those views as “evil” and told her she was responsible for gender dysphoria-related suicides. She was dismissed shortly afterwards.
First Liberty Institute subsequently filed suit, alleging that UMHW had discriminated against Kloosterman on the basis of her religious beliefs in violation of federal law.
Under the terms of the settlement, UMHW will pay Kloosterman $410,000 in damages and legal fees, introduce a new religious accommodation policy and provide reasonable religious accommodations without retaliation, according to First Liberty Institute.
“Title VII prohibits employers from discriminating against and punishing employees for their faith,” Kayla Toney, counsel at First Liberty Institute, said in a statement.
She continued: “Valerie is an exceptional physician assistant who cares for each of her patients. Employers cannot drive out people like Valerie just because of their sincere religious beliefs. We are grateful to have resolved this matter with University of Michigan Health-West.”
Under the new policy, employees at UMHW will not be required to perform or assist with procedures, medications or referrals related to gender transition if doing so would violate their sincerely held religious beliefs. They will also not be required to use a patient’s preferred pronouns if doing so would conflict with those beliefs.
“All I wanted to do was provide the best care possible to my patients without being forced to violate my Christian beliefs,” Kloosterman said.
“This new policy ensures that providers of faith and employees at UMHW will receive religious accommodations so that they can provide excellent care consistent with their medical judgment, because all patients are created in the image of God,” she added.
