Alaska Airline flight attendant fired

Press release
For Immediate Release: 10/10/24
Contact: Natalie Konstans, [email protected]
Direct: 972-941-4454

Flight attendants fired by Alaska Airlines appeal to the Ninth Circuit

Two flight attendants then defend themselves was fired for raising concerns about the impact of the Equality Act on women and people of faith in the internal message forum.

San Francisco, California– First Liberty Institute asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to overturn a lower court decision that dismissed a lawsuit filed by two flight attendants against Alaska Airlines. The lawsuit alleged the airline fired them because of their religious beliefs related to the Equality Act. The lawsuit also alleges that the Association of Flight Attendants union failed in its responsibility to defend the plaintiffs based on their religious beliefs.

You can read the letter here.

“Americans are being fired because of their religious beliefs, and it is appalling that a court would tolerate this. We urge the Ninth Circuit to reverse the lower court’s decision,” said Stephanie Taub, senior counsel at First Liberty Institute. “Alaska Airlines ignored federal civil rights laws that protect people of faith from discrimination and canceled our customers, and the flight attendants union abused their trust. We will continue to fight for our customers until Alaska Airlines and the Association of Flight Attendants are held accountable and American employees are protected from discrimination.”

In early 2021, Alaska Airlines announced its support for the Equality Act in an internal employee forum and invited employees to comment. Lacey asked a question: “As a company, do you believe it is possible to regulate morality?” In the same forum, the second flight attendant asked: “Does Alaska support: endangering the church, promoting the suppression of religious freedom, eradicating women’s rights and parental rights?” “….” Both plaintiffs, who had exemplary performance as employees, were subsequently investigated, questioned by airline authorities and dismissed from their jobs.

When she was fired, the airline said the flight attendants’ comments were “discriminatory,” “hateful” and “offensive.” In its dismissal statement to Ms. Smith, Alaska Airlines claimed that “defining gender identity or sexual orientation as a moral issue” was “a discriminatory statement.”

In the brief, First Liberty’s attorneys state, “The lower court erred in law by incorrectly defining the scope of religious discrimination and misapplying legal standards in evaluating the evidence.” Although Title VII discriminates on the basis of any aspect of religious discrimination Faith that prohibits the exercise or practice of religious customs, the court excused discrimination based on religious expression. “Plaintiffs presented sufficient evidence for a reasonable jury to find that the airline fired plaintiffs (and the union attempted to fire plaintiffs) because they expressed or disclosed their religious beliefs.”

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About First Liberty Institute

First Liberty Institute is a nonprofit public interest law firm and the nation’s largest legal organization dedicated exclusively to defending religious freedom for all Americans.

To arrange an interview, contact Natalie Konstans at [email protected] or by phone at 972-941-4454.