Backed into a corner, Christian teacher Jessica Tapia faced a moral dilemma—and knew she just couldn’t compromise.
And for that, she was fired. Plain and simple.
Tapia, a teacher in the Jurupa Unified School District in Southern California, told Fox News Digital that she refused to comply with the district’s gender policies, which instructed her not only to hide students’ gender transitions from parents but also to keep them in the dark through lying.
“I knew immediately, like in my gut, in my heart, in my soul, that there was a decision I had to make because, you know, these two things were totally butting heads,” Tapia told Fox News Digital. “I essentially had to pick one.
“Am I going to obey the district in the directive that are not lining up with … my own beliefs, convictions and faith?” she asked. “Or am I going to stay true …, choose my faith, choose to be obedient to … the way the Lord has called me to live. And so it was crazy to be in the position where I realized that I couldn’t be a Christian and a teacher.”
In January, Tapia received a notice on letterhead from Superintendent Trenton Hansen’s office that say they couldn’t accommodate Tapia’s Christian beliefs, which prohibited her from “withholding information on gender transitions from kids’ parents.”
“Consequently, the District will release you from your employment effective at the end of the day on Jan. 31, 2023,” the statement read. “Based on your religious beliefs, you cannot be dishonest with parents … If asked about a student’s gender identity by a parent, you cannot refer the parent to a counselor, defer the inquiry and suggest they speak with a student …, or otherwise deflect the parent’s inquiry.” The letter was signed by assistant superintendent of human resources Daniel Brooks.
Tapia says the whole situation comes directly from the enemy.
“I don’t believe in my faith that that’s how God’s calling us to love by affirming those lies and confusion,” Tapia said. “I believe firmly that God created man and woman, and you are who he made you to be. And when someone has confusion about that, I believe that’s lies and confusion from the devil.”
As expected, the school district, in a statement to Fox News Digital, denied that it discriminated against Tapia based on her Christian beliefs. The statement reads:
“The District denies the allegations raised by Ms. Tapia. The District takes seriously its obligation to accommodate its employee’s religious beliefs. Simultaneously, the District is obligated to comply with all local, state and federal laws, including anti-discrimination laws and laws that protect students’ rights to privacy, which are in place to protect the nearly 2,500 employees and 18,000 students we serve. We cannot comment further on personnel matters.”
But when Fox News Digital pressed the school district about the accusation by Tapia that educators should lie to parents about students’ gender identities, it did not directly respond.
“The District is required to comply with all state and federal laws, including the California Education Code which guarantees a student’s right to participate in sex-segregated school activities and to use facilities consistent with the student’s gender identity, regardless of the gender listed on the student’s records,” the district told Fox News Digital. “The District is also obligated to protect a student’s right to privacy which is guaranteed by state and federal antidiscrimination laws and the California Constitution. The District will continue to protect the rights of all students and staff as required by law.”
Tapia intends to sue the school district and has retained an attorney at Pacific Justice Institute.
As a physical education teacher, Tapia also refused to allow “male genitals” in the girls’ locker room, a stance that is in direct opposition with school district policy. {eoa}
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Shawn A. Akers is the online editor at Charisma Media.
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