Pamela Richard, a Kansas teacher, recently made headlines after winning a legal case following her suspension for refusing to use a student’s preferred pronouns. Richard, who worked at Geary County Schools, was suspended for three days after calling a student by their legal last name instead of using the student’s chosen first name and gender identity.
The controversy began when Richard, adhering to her Christian beliefs, declined to refer to a biologically female student by a new gender and name. Instead, she opted for “Miss [legal last name]” as a compromise. However, this did not satisfy the school’s policy, which mandated that staff use the names and pronouns requested by students.
Richard filed a lawsuit, arguing that the policy conflicted with her personal religious beliefs. In May, she won $95,000 in federal court. The court ruled that the school’s policy was unconstitutional. Although the school has not commented on the lawsuit, Richard’s victory allows her to continue her teaching duties while staying true to her beliefs.
