by Jorge Gomez • 3 minutes
Florida’s 6th District Court of Appeal recently asked First Liberty Institute, along with other religious liberty experts, to help the court analyze how state law protects the religious liberty rights of employees.
The law firm Lawson Huck Gonzalez filed a friend-of-the-court brief on behalf of First Liberty explaining the ways Florida’s Civil Rights Act corresponds with and differs from federal laws that protect against religious discrimination.
The Court is currently deliberating a case involving Christian Marin, a former HVAC technician at Nemours Children’s Hospital, who was fired for refusing a COVID-19 vaccine in accordance with his religious beliefs.
“We are honored the Court asked for our opinion,” said First Liberty Senior Counsel Stephanie Taub. “We are hopeful this brief will give them important insight for their decision.”
“At stake here is whether the Florida Civil Rights Act protects a Catholic employee from being terminated for refusing a vaccine that, if taken, would violate his sincerely held religious beliefs,” our brief notes, highlighting the significance of this case and the impact it could have on the rights of people of faith.
When it comes to workplace discrimination, federal and state laws typically share similar protections. But there are often differences as well. The Court asked us to clarify whether Florida law includes a duty to accommodate the religious beliefs and practices of their employees in the same way as federal law. Our brief explains that there is a duty to accommodate religious employees under both state and federal law.
Florida’s law specifically states that it is designed to “secure for all individuals within the state freedom from discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, handicap, or marital status.”
“Florida’s employment discrimination statute prohibits religious discrimination and therefore includes a duty for employers to accommodate the religious beliefs and practices of their employees,” Taub explains.
“We are grateful to provide our view of the law to help the Court as they determine the proper application,” said Justice Alan Lawson, Founding Shareholder of Lawson Huck Gonzalez PLLC. “The Court’s interpretation of this statute is vitally important for all employees of faith in Florida.”
The Marketplace: A Major Battlefront for Religious Freedom
First Liberty is fighting several, intense legal battles on behalf of Americans who were singled out because of their faith.
Alaska Airlines fired two flight attendants for expressing their Christian beliefs. Our clients, Lacey Smith and Marli Brown, shared on an internal company website their concerns about the Equality Act’s impact on women and people of faith. The company invited employees to comment, but then fired Marli and Lacey. Their case is awaiting a ruling from a federal appeals court.
Valerie Kloosterman, an experienced physician assistant, was fired by Michigan Health for seeking a religious accommodation from being required to affirm statements about gender that violated her religious beliefs. First Liberty filed a lawsuit against Michigan Health for violating federal law prohibiting workplace religious discrimination. Her case is pending in federal district court.
The New Britain School District threatened to fire Marisol Arroyo-Castro for not taking down a crucifix that has been on the wall next to her desk for 10 years. She’s taught in the Connecticut public school system for over 30 years, but was suspended without pay, then placed on administrative leave, and recently was reassigned to a non-teaching role. First Liberty is fighting this case in federal court.
People of faith have a right to live, work and do business in a manner that’s consistent with their convictions.
Forcing them to choose between their job and their sincere religious beliefs makes a mockery of our laws that protect against religious discrimination at work. It’s wrong and illegal.
First Liberty needs your ongoing support to fight for Valerie Kloosterman, Lacey Smith, Marli Brown and Marisol Castro. Your support makes a tremendous difference for our clients.
Join the fight for faith and help us deliver freedom for those who are still fighting to have their rights restored. Please give to First Liberty today.
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