Former teacher sues California employer over being terminated over same-sex reading requirement

A teacher who was terminated for refusing to read books about same-sex couples to students has sued a California childcare provider.

Nella Parisenkova, who is being represented by the Thomas More Society, worked for four years at Bright Horizons Children’s Center in Studio City and cared for children aged 5 and younger, according to the complaint she filed in the Superior Court of California. The lawsuit claims Parisenkova was aware of such LGBT-themed material at the Studio City location of the largest childcare company in the United States but at first had not been required to read them, according to Fox News. Bright Horizons has hundreds of locations worldwide and employs more than 26,000 people.

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Parisenkova’s situation changed in April when Katy Callas, the director of the location, learned of her religious objections to the material, refused her request for a religious accommodation and ultimately created a hostile work environment that led to her termination, according to the complaint. The complaint explained how for Parisenkova, who is “a devout Christian,” reading such books to children “would violate her religious beliefs and constitute promotion of intimate relationships and choices that are contrary to the teachings of her faith.”

“Parisenkova formally requested a religious accommodation from Bright Horizons that aligned with her prior informally granted request,” the lawsuit said. “Bright Horizons responded by categorically denying the request Instead, Bright Horizons issued a counseling memo with false statements, terminated her life insurance benefits, required her to complete retraining in diversity issues and encouraged her to resign her position. Ms. Parisenkova could not return to work without an accommodation; so, Bright Horizons terminated her employment.”

Bright Horizons has been outspoken in its support for LGBT community, documenting in October 2018 how its centers celebrated LGBT History Month by participating in pride parades and reading LGBT-themed books to children. In 2019, the organization also endorsed the Equality Act, which would add sexual orientation and gender identity to federal antidiscrimination policy.

Paul Jonna, special counsel at the Thomas More Society and one of Parisenkova’s attorneys, described her case in a statement as “an outrageous example of religious discrimination.”

–Alan Goforth | Metro Voice News