News Release
For Immediate Release: 3.17.26
Contact: Natalie Konstans, media@firstliberty.org
Direct: 972-941-4453
Employee Fired for Faith Reaches Favorable Settlement with Bath & Body Works
Law firms alleged former store manager was wrongfully terminated due to her religious beliefs regarding pronouns.
Salt Lake City, UT—First Liberty Institute and Schaerr Jaffe LLP announced a favorable settlement for former Bath & Body Works employee, Jocelyn Boden, who was fired for refusing to use pronouns in a way that violated her religious beliefs.
The terms of the settlement were not made public.
“Employers cannot force you to personally affirm a radical ideology that goes against your religious beliefs,” said Cliff Martin, Senior Counsel for First Liberty Institute. “We are glad to have reached an amicable resolution with Bath & Body Works.”
Joshua Prince, counsel for Schaerr Jaffe LLP, stated, “Requiring employees to violate their conscience and religious convictions violates the federal Civil Rights Act. Everyone benefits when employers obey the law and respect the religious beliefs of their employees. We are grateful to have resolved this matter on behalf of Jocelyn.”
Jocelyn Boden is a long-established member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who often discusses her faith in the workplace. She was a store manager at Bath & Body Works in Utah for three and a half years. In April 2025, she hired a new employee who identified as transgender. Jocelyn’s religious convictions influence how she thinks about human nature, gender, sexuality, and social issues. Jocelyn and the transgender employee worked together only one day, and after Jocelyn refused to use male pronouns when speaking about her because of her religious and moral convictions, a complaint was filed with human resources accusing Jocelyn of “misgendering.” Jocelyn was then terminated in May 2025. After filing a charge of religious discrimination with the EEOC, the parties reached a settlement.
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About First Liberty Institute
First Liberty Institute is a non-profit public interest law firm and the largest legal organization in the nation dedicated exclusively to defending religious freedom for all Americans.
To arrange an interview, contact Natalie Konstans at media@firstliberty.org or by calling 972-941-4453.
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