A Michigan hospital has agreed to pay $410,000 to resolve a lawsuit filed by Valerie Kloosterman. She claimed wrongful termination due to her religious convictions against transgender policies. According to court documents, University of Michigan Health-West dismissed Kloosterman, a physician assistant, in August 2021.
“All I wanted to do was provide the best care possible to my patients without being forced to violate my Christian beliefs,” Kloosterman stated. She shared her thoughts with Fox News Digital. Kloosterman’s performance reviews had been positive prior to her objections over mandatory gender identity training.
First Liberty Institute, representing Kloosterman, reported she was terminated three weeks after requesting a religious accommodation to avoid affirming gender identity statements. The lawsuit purported UMHW did not attempt to accommodate her beliefs. Subsequently, she filed a lawsuit in October 2022.
The lawsuit alleged that UMHW officials disparaged her religious beliefs during a meeting. She was labeled “evil” and a “liar,” accused of workplace misconduct, and allegedly blamed for suicides among individuals with gender dysphoria.
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The settlement mandates UMHW to establish a lawful religious accommodation policy. It requires employee training, reasonable accommodations, and payment of $410,000 to Kloosterman and her legal team.
“This new policy ensures that providers of faith and employees at UMHW will receive religious accommodations so that they can provide excellent care consistent with their medical judgment,” Kloosterman commented.
Kayla Toney, counsel at First Liberty, emphasized the protection offered by Title VII against faith-based discrimination. She expressed gratitude for the settlement resolution.
Fox News Digital made attempts to contact University of Michigan Health-West for their remarks.