Air Force Reservist Sues on Religious Grounds After Being Punished for Saying “Men Can’t Have Babies”

The intersection of trans identities and religious freedoms has given rise to complex lawsuits in the United States. At first glance, it might seem like refusing to use pronouns or acknowledge the ability of men to have babies is spiteful. Some might even consider these actions to be hateful. However, courts in the United States have repeatedly confirmed that people have the right to exercise their freedom of speech in a way that opposes the accepted norms of trans culture. Specifically, those who utilize their First Amendment rights in this manner have experienced considerable success when filing religious discrimination lawsuits. A recent lawsuit involving an Air Force Reservist illustrates how common and successful these lawsuits can be. 

Air Force Reservist Punished for Suggesting Males Cannot Bear Children

Back in October of 2023, numerous sources reported on a controversial speech given by an Air Force Reservist. The defendant gave the speech at a private event, in a privately owned venue, and he was retired at the time. The speech was extremely critical of the United States military, accusing it of being compromised by harmful cultural changes associated with the LGBTQ+ community. He referred to this influence as a “radical political faction.”

During the speech, the retired reservist also noted that service members and ordinary Americans face “cancellation” if they state that “men can’t make babies” or “boys should not be allowed in girls’ locker rooms.” He also maintained that these were basic facts of life. 

Even though the speech occurred outside the reservist’s professional life and on private property, the military decided to issue him a “letter of admonishment” (LOA). The plaintiff alleges that this represents a blemish on his professional career that could affect his future career options, his relationships, and other aspects of his life.

Air Force Contends That Service Members Should Remain Apolitical

In response, the Air Force pointed to a long-standing rule that requires military service members to remain apolitical in their off-duty activities. This is particularly true with higher-ranking service members, especially when they are wearing their uniforms. Although the speech occurred at a private event and the service member was off-duty at the time, he was in fact wearing his uniform while speaking. 

In response, the plaintiff alleges that other service members have been allowed to make political statements while in uniform. If the military is allowing service members to make certain political statements in uniform but not others, this could pave the way for a religious discrimination lawsuit. 

Judge Allows Lawsuit to Proceed

Almost two years after these initial reports, a U.S. District Judge has allowed the plaintiff’s lawsuit to move forward. The judge specifically noted that the reservist was off-duty at the time of the speech, stating that this makes his claims “justiciable.” Judging by the trend of recent religious discrimination lawsuits in the United States, one might argue that the plaintiff has a strong chance of success. 

The Goal of the Universal Life Church’s Blog

Each month, various lawsuits test the nature of religious rights in this country. While the basis for many religious rights is the United States Constitution, there are still countless cases that question the exact nature of these rights. The Universal Life Church’s blog is focused on documenting the most noteworthy of these cases in an objective manner that can be easily understood by readers.