Identity of Speakers
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Ellenor Zinski
Faculty/Staff
OtherFormer Information Services Apprentice at the IT Helpdesk
Resources
Additional Information
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Incident Nature:
Lawsuit
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Incident Political Orientation:
Not Clear -
Incident Responses:
Staff Sanctioned
Litigation
Title IX or other federal statute
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Incident Status:
In litigation Federal Court of Appeals
- Did not involve Speech Codes
Summary
In July 2024, the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia (ACLU-VA) filed a federal lawsuit against Liberty University on behalf of Ellenor Zinski, a former employee who was fired after she informed the university of her gender transition. The lawsuit alleged that Liberty University violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act by discriminating against Zinski because she is transgender. According to the complaint, Zinski had been a dedicated employee prior to her termination, which occurred shortly after she disclosed her intention to live openly as a transgender woman. The ACLU argued that Liberty’s actions constituted unlawful discrimination based solely on her transgender status.
Liberty University, a private Christian institution, defended its decision to terminate Zinski by invoking religious freedom protections under the First Amendment’s Free Exercise Clause. The university contended that, as a faith-based institution, it was entitled to enforce employment policies consistent with its religious beliefs regarding gender and sexuality. Liberty asserted that its policies reflect its sincerely held religious convictions, and it maintained that the lawsuit infringed on its constitutionally protected rights.
In the months following the filing, Liberty University sought to dismiss the case, arguing that Title VII did not apply due to religious exemptions. However, in May 2025, the court denied the university’s motion to dismiss, allowing the lawsuit to proceed. This decision marked a significant step for Zinski’s claim, reinforcing the applicability of federal protections against discrimination on the basis of gender identity, even within religious institutions.
Liberty University filed an appeal in March 2025 with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. The university’s legal counsel emphasized their commitment to defending religious liberty and upholding the institution’s right to make employment decisions grounded in faith-based principles. Meanwhile, Zinski and the ACLU continue to assert that discrimination based on transgender status is unlawful and that religious freedom cannot justify such discrimination in the workplace.
