"In 2017, the school district introduced an update to its inclusivity policy requiring that staff respect trans students' names and pronouns. Kluge objected to the rule following its enactment, citing his conservative religious beliefs. He was afforded an exception which allowed him to only use the second name of students, according to local outlet IndyStar. However, officials rescinded this exception in 2018 and gave the orchestra teacher an ultimatum - respect the pronouns and names of students, or resign."
"He then filed a religious discrimination lawsuit against Brownsburg, claiming the policy had forced him to choose between his career and his faith as a Christian fundamentalist. Following eight years of complicated legal proceedings, which involved the case jumping between various courts across the US, both parties eventually agreed to a settlement of $650,000."
"David Cortman, senior counsel of Alliance Defending Freedom, which represented Kluge in the case, branded the inclusivity policy an 'ideological mandate', adding that he wanted the settlement to force schools to think twice before implementing rules that he believes 'violate [staff's] religious beliefs'."
John Kluge, a music teacher at Brownsburg Community Schools in Indiana, was paid $650,000 in a settlement following an eight-year legal battle over his dismissal. In 2017, the school district updated its inclusivity policy to require staff respect for transgender students' names and pronouns. Kluge objected based on his Christian fundamentalist beliefs and initially received an exception allowing him to use only students' last names. When the school rescinded this exception in 2018 and demanded full compliance with the policy, Kluge resigned. He subsequently filed a religious discrimination lawsuit claiming the policy forced him to choose between his career and faith. After years of litigation across multiple courts, both parties agreed to settle.
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