Reyzl Grace v. Academy of Holy Angels and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis:
Standing Up Against LGBTQ Workplace Discrimination
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.
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.
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Reyzl Grace, who is Jewish, worked as the sole librarian at Holy Angels during the 2021-2022 school year. Her role required no ministerial duties, religious training, or education. Grace was widely respected by students and her colleagues for her dedication to fostering a love of reading and learning among students.
In March 2022, Grace informed the school of her intention to renew her employment contract for another year. The principal initially expressed enthusiasm for her to continue in her role. However, upon learning that Grace had come out as trans, the principal’s demeanor changed and Grace was told she would not be able to work at the school.
A few days later, the principal presented Grace with a “Guiding Principles” document and asked if she could adhere to its contents. Grace said they would be impossible for her to follow, as they would deny her the ability to express her true self, require her to misgender students and “out” them in potentially dangerous situations. Grace was then asked to submit a formal resignation and instructed not to disclose the reason for her departure, with the school citing a desire to control the messaging.
Refusing to resign, Grace reapplied for her position when the school reposted it. Despite meeting all the job requirements, she was informed via email that the position had been filled.
Our lawsuit contends that the Academy of Holy Angels and the Archdiocese violated the MHRA by unlawfully discriminating against Grace by not allowing her to reapply for a position she had successfully occupied, as well as refusing to hire her when she reapplied, based on her identity 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 in a Minnesota where everyone is treated with dignity and respect, free from discrimination. This case is a crucial step toward that goal.
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