Valerie Kloosterman was a physician assistant at the University of Michigan Health — West. As a Christian, she did not want to refer patients to or participate in “transgender” procedures, including puberty blockers and genital mutilation.
Kloosterman in 2021 asked her then employer for a religious accommodation. Michigan Health denied her and fired her. The health center’s diversity, equity, and inclusion director called her evil and blamed her for “transgender” suicides.
Kloosterman filed a lawsuit. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit denied Michigan Health’s request to switch to arbitration instead of a trial. Shortly after this decision, the University of Michigan stopped “transition” treatments for minors.
First Liberty Institute, Kloosterman’s legal counsel, announced that Michigan Health will pay $410,000 in damages and fees. The health center will also change its “transgender” policy to stop requiring employees to perform or participate in “transgender care” or lie about pronouns.
Employees will be trained, presumably, to respect others’ religious beliefs.
“All I wanted to do was provide the best care possible to my patients without being forced to violate my Christian beliefs,” Kloosterman said. “This new policy ensures that providers of faith and employees at UMHW will receive religious accommodations so that they can provide excellent care consistent with their medical judgment, because all patients are created in the image of God.”
Photo credit: First Liberty Institute
