In a key religious freedom victory, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled in favor of Valerie Kloosterman, a Christian physician assistant terminated by University of Michigan Health-West in 2021 for refusing to refer patients for gender-transition procedures or use pronouns that violate her faith. The court rejected the hospital’s attempt to force arbitration, allowing her lawsuit to proceed in federal court.
Kloosterman, who served her patients faithfully for 17 years, sought a religious accommodation after being asked in a workplace survey whether she would support gender-transition practices. Her sincere Christian convictions led her to respectfully decline. In response, she says she was shamed by leadership, called “evil,” and eventually fired, despite a record of excellent patient care.
Religious liberty advocates, including First Liberty Institute, praised the ruling as a stand against institutions that punish people of faith. The court noted Kloosterman’s stellar reviews and equal treatment of all patients. This case may set a vital precedent for conscience protections in healthcare.
