Former Brownsburg Teacher Joins Religious Policy Group With Federal Lawsuit

An Indiana teacher whose job ended last year after he refused to use transgender students’ preferred pronouns and names is suing his former district. The suit claims he was forced out of his position, and the district violated his freedom of religious expression.

John Kluge says his religious beliefs prevent him from using transgender students’ preferred pronouns or names, and as a teacher at Brownsburg Community Schools, he says officials told him to follow a policy forcing him to use transgender students' preferred names, or lose his job.

The district has a nondiscrimination policy that includes gender identity, and says Kluge resigned.

Now, the Indiana Family Institute – a faith-based policy group – is joining Kluge with a federal lawsuit, alleging the district violated Kluge’s freedom of religion and First Amendment rights.

The lawsuit is calling for the district to no longer enforce policies that violate an employee’s religious beliefs – specifically about gender identity – and pay legal fees and back pay.