In a notable bid to uphold the rights of workers against discriminatory employment practices, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has joined forces with counterparts from 19 others states in support of Ellenor Zinski, a transgender woman who was fired by Liberty University. A brief filed on behalf of Zinski's cause, set forth in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, seeks to combat the sex-based discrimination she endured, as reported by the Michigan Office of the Attorney General. "No employee should lose their livelihood simply because of who they are," Nessel asserted, standing united with her legal peers to emphasize the importance of evaluating workers on their performance rather than their gender identity.
Zinski, who joined the IT Help Desk of Liberty University in February of 2023, transparently disclosed her gender transition in July of the same year, following the completion of her probation period. Shortly thereafter, in August, the university terminated her employment, citing its status as a religious institution and claiming its right to fire her based on her transgender identity. This move led to Zinski's legal confrontation against the university in July 2024, in which she asserts that her firing infringes upon Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964—a law that explicitly prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of sex. In April 2025, a federal judge ruled against Liberty's attempt to have the case dismissed, a decision Liberty University has since appealed, according to the Michigan Office of the Attorney General.
A group of state attorneys general, including Nessel, argues that Liberty University can’t use the First Amendment to avoid anti-discrimination laws in this case. They say the university’s claim—that it has a religious right to choose its employees—doesn’t apply because the employee, Zinski, was doing a regular administrative job, not a religious one. The group also says the “ministerial exception,” which protects religious groups when hiring for key religious roles, doesn't fit here because Zinski's job had nothing to do with religion. They believe Liberty’s interpretation of the law would make it too hard for states to enforce anti-discrimination protections, as detailed by the Michigan Office of the Attorney General.
The legal brief warns that if Liberty University wins by using the First Amendment as a defense, it could weaken states' power to enforce laws against job discrimination. Attorneys general from states like California, New York, and Illinois support the earlier court decision that lets Zinski continue her case. Their joint statement shows strong agreement across many states that employees should be protected from unfair treatment at work, no matter their gender identity or other personal traits, as per the Michigan Office of the Attorney General.
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