A Christian first-grade teacher in Nashville, Tennessee, has secured the ability to follow his religious convictions after a dispute with his school. Eric Rivera, who teaches at KIPP Antioch College Prep Elementary School, had been removed from his classroom after requesting a religious accommodation to avoid reading books about same-sex marriage to his students. He was reassigned and faced potential job loss after asking another teacher to cover that portion of instruction.
First Liberty Institute represented Rivera, arguing that the school could not compel him to violate his beliefs. The organization stated, “Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 established that it is unlawful for an employer to discriminate against any individual with respect to religion and also requires employers to accommodate employees’ religious practices unless doing so would impose an ‘undue hardship’ on the conduct of the employer’s business.”
Following legal action, the school agreed to clear Rivera’s record and allow teachers to request accommodations for materials that conflict with their faith.
