In a blistering 29-page order, the judge said the airline acted as if its own policy limiting what employees can say is more important than a federal law protecting religious speech.
The recent firings prompted more than 700 Houghton alumni to sign a petition in protest.
Christie Leonard is suing the Gospel Crusade, claiming her termination was driven by discrimination based on her gender and presumptions about her sexual orientation. The church has disputed her account in court, but the case is one of several that could test the reach of
Among the religious right, many found the 6-3 majority opinion shielding LGBT people from employment discrimination, written by Justice Neil Gorsuch, alarming. But some also saw an open door to gain back some ground in the future.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that LGBTQ people are protected from discrimination under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act on June 15 in a landmark opinion that makes employment discrimination against LGBTQ persons illegal and has important implications for religious organizations.
On Sept, 8, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Harris Funeral Homes v. EEOC, as well as two other employment cases.