Christian library technician who refused to use trans pronouns demands job back, threatens action

A Louisiana library technician who was fired after refusing to use a colleague’s pronouns due to religious objections, is demanding his job back, with back pay.

The Christian Post reports that Liberty Counsel sent a demand letter last week to the East Baton Rouge Parish Library on behalf of Ash, who worked as a library services technician until last July.

The letter calls for reinstatement of Ash’s employment, the payment of back wages and a change in the library’s pronoun policy.

If the matter remains unresolved by Nov. 10, Liberty Counsel said it would file complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Department of Justice’s Task Force for Elimination of Anti-Christian Bias.

According to the Christian Post, Ash was terminated for refusing to refer to a female trainee with male pronouns, saying that it was his belief that doing so would violate his Christian faith.

Ash was hired in March of 2025 and had only worked with the trainee for 3 days when he referred to the trainee, in conversation with another colleague, using biologically-accurate pronouns.

The following day, Ash was called into a meeting and shown the library’s inclusivity policy but he told his supervisors that he would not comply because doing so would be dishonest.

Ash was terminated shortly thereafter, prompting the letter from Liberty Counsel saying that the library had violated Ash’s rights under the First Amendment, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, and the Louisiana Protection of Religious Freedom Act.

Ash serves as a pastor at Stevendale Baptist Church in Baton Rouge.

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