The case is Zinski v. Liberty University. Jonathan Zinski, the plaintiff, was hired in February 2023 to work as an information services apprentice at Liberty University's IT Helpdesk. Little did the university know that Zinski was hiding something.
Daniel Schmid is associate vice president of legal affairs at Liberty Counsel, which is representing Liberty University. The attorney explains it was a setup: an attempt to trap the university.
"An individual applied to work for Liberty University under the pretense that he agreed with its Christian doctrine and mission statement – and [he] signed off on that," says Schmid. "Every employee [of the university] is required to sign a statement saying they agree with Liberty's biblical position on sexuality and marriage and all manner of things."
Liberty Counsel, on behalf of Liberty University, has requested the federal lawsuit against the university be dismissed. Zinski is represented by the ACLU.
Schmid tells AFN that Zinski signed the doctrinal document knowing full well that he was in direct conflict with it. Zinski, he continues, was in fact four months into a hormone regimen to purportedly change from male to female when he signed the document. Soon after his 90-day probation period ended, Zinski revealed that to the school.
"[He] said 'I think you should still accept my position. It's still the Christian position, and you should have grace' – and all the other things that he said. So, it was a setup," Schmid argues. "He knew that they would be required to fire him; their biblical beliefs require that. They did, and then he sued them." The suit was filed in late July.
Liberty Counsel argues Liberty University is legally in the right under the First Amendment, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. The law, explains Liberty Counsel founder Mat Staver, "protects the ability of religious organizations to operate consistent with their mission."
