Virginia Teacher Awarded $575,000 in Settlement Over Pronouns Dispute**

Peter Vlaming, a former high school French teacher in West Point, Virginia, was awarded $575,000 in a settlement after filing a lawsuit against the West Point School Board. Vlaming, who taught for seven years, was terminated in 2018 for refusing to use a student’s preferred pronouns. Instead, he used the student’s chosen name while avoiding gender-specific pronouns.

Vlaming filed a $1 million lawsuit in 2019, asserting that the school district’s actions violated his rights to free speech and religious beliefs. The settlement, which covers damages and attorney fees, was approved by a judge this week. Caleb Dalton, senior counsel at the Alliance Defending Freedom, called the outcome “a win for freedom of speech in Virginia,” emphasizing that no government should compel employees to endorse beliefs contrary to their values.

West Point Public Schools Superintendent Larry L. Frazier Jr. expressed satisfaction with the resolution, noting that it ensures no negative impact on the school community. Since Vlaming’s termination, the school district has adopted new transgender policies in alignment with guidelines introduced by Governor Glenn Youngkin in 2022, which give parents greater control over a student’s identity in school records.

The case has drawn national attention, spotlighting ongoing debates over balancing personal beliefs and school policies related to gender identity.