Officials at the KIPP Antioch College Prep Elementary School in Nashville, Tennessee, penalized a Christian teacher for refusing to read to first-grade students from a book featuring a homosexual couple and daughter.
The school reassigned the teacher and threatened to fire him.
First Liberty Institute sent the school a demand letter on behalf of the teacher, Eric Rivera, warning officials that their actions violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the U.S. Constitution, and may violate parents’ rights under the Constitution and state law.
The KIPP school has until the end of business on February 27, 2026, to respond to First Liberty’s demand letter. The school does not want to litigate this in court.
The Bible teaches that homosexuality is a sin, and Rivera did not want to read or spread a message that conflicts with his religious beliefs. According to First Liberty, Rivera switched class periods with a colleague on the day the book would be read. An excerpt:
However, after the book had already been read to the students, the principal called Eric into her office and threatened to fire him should he not forfeit his beliefs and agree to teach all books in the curriculum regardless of his convictions. He was told he must “maintain fidelity” with the school’s worldview.
KIPP schools are government charter schools partly funded by…taxpayers. These schools may not require employees to suspend their religious beliefs or express a message they oppose.
Rivera seeks religious accommodation.
If this is true, there needs to be a serious investigation into KIPP Antioch College Prep Elementary and whether or not they are complying with Tennessee law.
Teachers should not have their livelihood threatened over something like this. Fidelity to education should never… pic.twitter.com/O5kdZ9dZcn
— Rep. Andy Ogles (@RepOgles) February 19, 2026
