The Chicago Bulls recently released Jaden Ivey from his contract for being outspoken about his Christian beliefs when he expressed discontent with the NBA’s Pride Month celebrations. Discrimination against Christians isn’t exclusive to the world of professional sports — and thankfully the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), following a Trump administration executive order, has begun to increase efforts to counter violations of Christians’ religious rights.
This week, the EEOC announced it is suing the Cogar Group, a private security company, after it allegedly forced a disabled veteran working as a security guard to resign over his Christian beliefs. In February 2024, the Virginia-based company told the security guard that his schedule would be shifted so that he would be required to work on weekends, according to an EEOC press release. The guard had previously informed the Cogar Group in March 2021 that he was unable to work on Sundays due to his religious beliefs, as he identifies as a devout Baptist and a church deacon. The EEOC says that the Cogar Group refused to honor the employee’s religious practice, forcing the security guard to resign.
Employers who don’t make accommodations for their employee’s religious beliefs are violating Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.