A Christian doctor’s assistant who says she was wrongly terminated because of Her religious objections The policy finally confirmed her day in court to the transgender of her employer, more than three years after she had lost her job.
Valerie Kloosterman worked for 17 years as a doctor’s assistant for Metro Health Caledonia, a national outpatient clinic operated by the University of Michigan Health-West (UMHW). She was terminated in August 2021 after she reportedly sought religious accommodation to not be forced to use the preferred proposals of patients or to refer patients for transgender surgical procedures and medicines.
Law firms First Liberty and Clement & Murphy, PLLC, have brought a lawsuit against UMHW, who accused the health system of violating Kloosterman’s first and fourteenth change rights to free exercise of religion, freedom of expression and equal protection; And violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, when she was terminated from her work.
Lawyers of Michigan James Wieranga and David J. Williams have also submitted the lawsuit on behalf of Kloosterman.
After years of legal delays for Kloosterman’s case, her lawyers were able to deliver oral arguments for the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit on 6 February.
The University of Michigan Health West System dismissed Valerie Kloosterman, a doctor’s assistant, after they reported a religious accommodation for a new transgender -affirmative policy. (Istock via Getty/First Liberty)
Kloosterman Told Fox News Digital That shortly before her termination of UMHW she had to complete a diversity training module that obliged her to confirm her statements with regard to sexual orientation and gender identity that contradicted her Christian faith.
“Two of those questions specifically asked that gender was fluent. I could not say: ‘No, I do not believe that, as we were made of the image of God, it is something that God has designed us. It is not something we To be assigned to birth. “But I couldn’t say:” No. ” It would not let me complete the mandatory survey, and they had already stated that you would be terminated if you didn’t fill it in, “she said.
Kloosterman said that during the age of 17 she had treated LGBT patients the same as any other patient and without conflicts. She said she had never encountered a situation in which she was forced to use the chosen pronouns of a patient.
When she sought a religious exemption for the hypothetical situation through HR, various meetings followed. During her last meeting before her termination, Kloosterman claims that she was condemned by UMHWs Diversity, equity and inclusion (dei) Program coordinator about her religious beliefs.
“The meeting became hostile. This person called me a liar because I stated that I saw patients from the LGBT community and had no problems, no worries about them. He said I was ‘bad’ because I would not consider these patients To refer for sex changing operation, “she said.
According to First Liberty, a dei officer in a Michigan health care system told a Christian doctor’s assistant that her religious opposition against referring to patients would cause these patients to commit suicide. (AP Photo/John Hanna)
This same dei officer would also have mocked her faith and told her that she would cause transgender patients to commit suicide by not confirming their pronouns, says the suit.
Kloosterman said that leadership told her that the conversation would continue at another time. But a month later she was abruptly called up the office and shot on the spot, says the court case.
“I didn’t get a chance to close my graph. I didn’t get a chance to tell my patients. I wasn’t even allowed to go back to the office to get my personal belongings,” she told Fox News Digital.
Kloosterman said she surprised the office that her employer would fire her because of her religious opposition against a hypothetical situation.
She was also deeply saddened that her patients, with whom she had built long -term relationships, would stay in the dark why she suddenly no longer was their provider.
Valerie Kloosterman said she was abruptly dismissed without notification of her work after she was looking for religious accommodation for the transgender policy of her employer. (Istock)
“I had several patients in my mind that I thought:” I have diagnoses that I have to tell “… I had promised that I would call them back. And I couldn’t do that. And I was breaking that promise to them. Did not know how to help them … you have so many things through your head. “She said.
Although the test has tested its faith, it has also opened conversations with her sons about what it means to rely on God’s determination in the times, Kloosterman said.
“This is not my fight or my journey, right?” She said about these conversations with her family. “This is about glorifying God and God and being faithful and being honest and knowing that I have to take every step off the road. If it is emotional, if it is difficult, if it means I lose my job, I have to do that is what it is to be a Christian.
The lawsuit states that Kloosterman was an “exemplary” employee who was never subjected to discipline at the point of her resignation. She had a “stellar” reputation in her patients, and “served” patients with all different beliefs and backgrounds, including those who identified as lesbian, gay or gender dysphoria, according to Court documents.
Kloosterman submitted an accusation of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the first freedom sued after the health system reportedly refused their request to restore Kloosterman.
Valerie Kloosterman said she was “deeply sad” that she couldn’t explain to her patients why she could no longer be their provider. (Istock)
They are looking for monetary damage, fair exemption and for Kloosterman to recover from UMHW with accommodation for issues related to transgender pronouns and surgical references.
UMHW did not respond to a request for comment.
In an earlier statement about the court case, UMHW told Fox News Digital: “University of Michigan Health-West strives to offer all patients appropriate medical treatment and respects the religious beliefs of its employees. We are convinced she has submitted to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, without merit.
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The health care system has its dei values ​​on its website and says that it is nationally recognized for his dedication to LGBTQ patients.
“UM Health-West is the highest scoring system in Grand Rapids area and deserves designation as LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Top Performer,” Being Website says.
During his first days in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to limit “chemical and surgical” gender change procedures for minors.
Different children’s hospitals and clinics throughout the country have the order and sworn to continue Offering transgender medical treatments to patients.
Jon Brown from Fox News has contributed to this article.
