Justice for Reyzl: Standing up to LGBTQ Workplace Discrimination

In this episode of The Gender Justice Brief, Reyzl Grace’s attorney, Brittany Stewart, outlines our case seeking justice for her.

Host: Noah Parrish, Gender Justice Communications Director
Guest: Brittany Stewart, Gender Justice Senior Staff Attorney

In August 2024, Gender Justice and co-counsel Wanta Thome PLC filed a discrimination lawsuit against the Academy of Holy Angels, a Catholic high school in Richfield, Minnesota, and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis after they effectively terminated Reyzl Grace, a staff librarian, when she came out as trans.

Reyzl Grace’s story highlights the importance of ensuring that no employer in Minnesota has carte blanche to discriminate against employees simply because of who they are.

We believe the school violated the Minnesota Human Rights Act (MHRA) by refusing to allow Grace, who served as a secular librarian at the school, to reapply for her position on the basis of gender identity and sex. While the MHRA does permit limited exemptions on religious grounds, the Legislature never intended for these exemptions to apply to secular employees.

References and additional resources:

• Background and context on Reyzl Grace’s case
• Grace v. Academy of Holy Angels — Fact Sheet
• Read the complaint here
• Sign up to stay informed on Reyzl Grace’s case

About The Gender Justice Brief

The Gender Justice Brief is produced by Gunther Michael Jahnl of IQONEQ Communications Solutions and Audra Grigus.

Visit Gender Justice and UnRestrict Minnesota.

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