California teacher is fired after refusing to hide gender transitions from kids’ parents and saying it went against her beliefs: ‘I realized that I couldn’t be a Christian and a teacher’

• Teacher Jessica Tapia says she was fired for refusing to lie to parents
• School district denies discriminating against her for her Christian beliefs
• California law bans schools from outing trans students without permission 

A teacher in California has said that she was fired for refusing to withhold the gender identity of students from their parents, and alleges the school district discriminated against her Christian beliefs.

Jessica Tapia, who taught physical education in the Jurupa Unified School District, was fired on January 31 after stating her refusal to comply with the district’s gender policies, she told Fox News Digital in an interview on Wednesday. 

Tapia alleged that her firing was discriminatory, and accused the district of failing to accommodate her religious beliefs, including her belief that non-conforming gender identities are ‘lies and confusion from the devil.’

‘It was crazy to be in the position where I realized that I couldn’t be a Christian and a teacher,’ she said. ‘I essentially had to pick one.’

In a statement, the school district denied discriminating against Tapia for her religion, noting that California law bars schools from outing transgender kids to family members without the student’s permission. 

Jessica Tapia is alleging school officials discriminated against her religion after she was fired for refusing to withhold student gender identities from their parents

Jurupa Unified School District Superintendent Trenton Hansen is seen above. District officials note they are forbidden by law to out transgender kids to their families without permission

‘The Jurupa Unified School District committed to providing all students and staff with a discrimination and harassment free learning environment,’ a district spokesperson told DailyMail.com in a statement, citing obligations under state and federal anti-discrimination laws.

According to California’s Department of Education, a state law that took effect in 2014 requires schools to consult with a transgender student before informing anyone of their gender identity, to protect the student’s privacy.

‘With rare exceptions, schools are required to respect the limitations that a student places on the disclosure of their transgender status, including not sharing that information with the student’s parents,’ the department said in an explainer.

‘Revealing a student’s gender identity or expression to others may compromise the student’s safety,’ the explainer noted. 

The same law also requires California schools to give students access to the restrooms and locker rooms that correspond with their stated gender identity. 

Tapia said she also refused to follow to that policy, saying she did not want ‘male genitals’ in the girls’ locker room.

Tapia has been teaching PE for six years, but told Fox News Digital that she only became aware of the state’s longstanding gender policy requirements during the course of a recent and unspecified workplace investigation. 

‘I knew immediately, like in my gut, in my heart, in my soul, that there was a decision I had to make because, you know, these two things were totally butting heads,’ she told the outlet. 

Tapia has been teaching PE for six years, but said she only became aware of the state of California’s longstanding gender policy requirements for schools

‘I believe firmly that God created man and woman, and you are who he made you to be. And when someone has confusion about that, I believe that’s lies and confusion from the devil,’ added Tapia. 

Tapia did not immediately respond to a request for comment from DailyMail.com on Wednesday afternoon. 

Fox News Digital said it had reviewed a notice under Jurupa Unified School District Superintendent Trenton Hansen’s letterhead stating: ‘The district cannot accommodate your religious beliefs that… prohibit you from maintaining a student’s gender identity and refraining from disclosing a student’s gender identity from his/her/their parent(s)/guardians.’

‘Based on your religious beliefs, you cannot be dishonest with parents… If asked about a student’s gender identity by a parent, you cannot refer the parent to a counselor, defer the inquiry and suggest they speak with a student…, or otherwise deflect the parent’s inquiry,’ said the letter, signed by assistant superintendent of human resources Daniel Brooks.

Tapia said she had retained an attorney and intended to sue, alleging her firing was an act of religious discrimination.

‘The District denies the allegations raised by Ms. Tapia. The District takes seriously its obligation to accommodate its employee’s religious beliefs,’ school officials said in a statement.

‘Simultaneously, the District is obligated to comply with all local, state, and federal laws, including anti-discrimination laws and laws that protect students’ rights to privacy, which are in place to protect the nearly 2,500 employees and 18,000 students we serve. We cannot comment further on personnel matters,’ the statement added. 

‘Under the Education Code, students are guaranteed the right to use facilities consistent with their gender identity, regardless of the gender listed on their records,’ a District spokesperson told DailyMail.com

‘State and federal antidiscrimination laws, including Title IX, also protect students and staff and obligate the District to provide a discrimination free learning environment. 

‘Finally, all students and staff enjoy the right to privacy under the Constitutions of the United States and California. While individuals may elect to disclose their personal information to the public, the District is prohibited from doing so,’ the statement added.

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