Christian math teacher Pamela Ricard is now suing the school district that suspended her after refusing to call students by their pronouns.

Ricard defends her actions, stating she felt uncomfortable using pronouns that were different from what was listed in the school’s enrollment system. The situation arose after Ricard called a student “miss” to get their attention during class. After class ended, a student emailed Ricard to inform her the pronouns she used were wrong and the student used he/him/they pronouns, along with a different name.

“His pronouns are He/Him & if you can’t act like an Adult & respect him & his pronouns then prepare yourself to deal with his mother since you can’t be a decent human being and respect him. All you’re doing right now is showing that you’re transphobic & don’t care that you’re being visibly transphobic. My pronouns are he/they btw,” the note to Ricard read.

The following day Ricard opted to use the student’s last name to avoid using the preferred name and pronouns. The class was upset by this and collectively wrote a note that was left on Ricard’s desk accusing her of being “transphobic.”

Ricard believes that her suspension was a result of discrimination. She has also claimed that her rights as a Christian were violated. In the lawsuit against Geary County Schools board members, superintendent, and principal, Ricard’s Lawyers claim she was using religious objections and therefore did not have to comply with the district’s policy on addressing trans students.

The lawsuit quotes Ricard’s beliefs stating, “Ms. Ricard believes that God created human beings as either male or female, that this sex is fixed in each person from the moment of conception, and that it cannot be changed, regardless of an individual person’s feelings, desires, or preferences.” The suit continues by saying that forcing Ricard to refer to students by plural, non-binary and gendered pronouns that are different from the student’s biological sex violates her religious beliefs.

After school officials were notified of the situation, Ricard was pulled into a conference where she told her superiors she “didn’t think we should be calling students different names without parental consent.” And even though the policies violated her religious beliefs, she would comply.

After the conference, Ricard was still handed a three-day paid suspension so officials could review the policy violations against her. When Ricard returned to work, she was given a write-up for the three policies she violated and was informed she had to call every student by their preferred pronouns and names. Ricard signed the write-up but included “I do not agree with this.’ Before Ricard’s suspension, there was no active formal policy on gender pronouns. The district claims Ricard was suspended for violating the district’s bullying, diversity and inclusion policy.

During an appeal, Ricard requested religious exemption three times which the school board continued to deny. The district then threatened to take disciplinary actions to the extreme, including firing Ricard if she refused to comply with the new policies.

She stands firm that she shouldn’t have to contradict her core beliefs just to teach in public school. Ricard’s lawsuit seeks ‘nominal damages’ and wants her disciplinary record cleared.