A former Indiana teacher has reached a significant legal settlement after alleging religious discrimination by his school district. Brownsburg Community School Corporation agreed to pay $650,000 to resolve a lawsuit brought by John Kluge, a former high school music teacher who declined to use preferred pronouns that conflicted with students’ biological sex due to his Christian beliefs.
Kluge, represented by Alliance Defending Freedom, had previously been granted a religious accommodation in 2017, allowing him to address students by last names only. In January 2018, the district reiterated its policy requiring teachers to address transgender students using their chosen names and gender identities instead of those assigned at birth. Kluge said that when he asked if he was expected to comply, he was informed that his options were to follow the policy, resign, or face termination.
“After almost five and a half years, common sense has prevailed at Brownsburg,” said ADF Senior Counsel and Vice President of U.S. Litigation David Cortman. “This settlement confirms what the law has always said: Public schools cannot force teachers to violate their religious beliefs.”
