HERSHEY, Pennsylvania (LifeSiteNews) – A Christian spa worker in Pennsylvania is suing her employer for suspending her over her objection to escorting a biological male to a women’s locker room.
CBS 21 reported that Jeriah Sellers, a part-time employee of MeltSpa, says that on May 28 she was informed that a “transgender woman” and “well-known political figure” would be coming in and that she would be assigned to escort him. Sellers said she would be uncomfortable doing so, to which her supervisor initially said would be “no problem.”
On May 31, however, Sellers reported to work and was called in for a conversation with her manager, who told her such an accommodation request should have been submitted to the human resources department. Then, on June 4, she was suspended without pay for one day for allegedly violating the company’s “Spa Transgender Practices,” which she maintains she has never seen. She also refused to sign an admission that she “refused to assist a guest based on gender identity.”
“Hershey (the spa’s parent company) wants you to leave your personal, religious, and political beliefs at the door,” HR representatives allegedly told Sellers.
Now Sellers is suing Hershey Entertainment & Resort Company, alleging violation of religious freedom and retaliation for her beliefs. The suit explains she was unwilling to escort a man to a women’s locker for the sake of the comfort and safety of female guest, but beyond that “was at all times willing to serve the guest as needed.”
“Federal and state law require reasonable religious accommodations absent undue hardship,” Sellers’ attorney, Andrea Shaw, declared. “This case asks the court to affirm that principle and to make clear that employees shouldn’t be penalized for living their faith respectfully on the job.”
In response, Hershey maintains that “there are clear differences between what has been reported and what is documented to have occurred. No religious accommodation was requested before or during the spa service, and the team member did not indicate she could not assist the guest for religious reasons. Afterward, we asked the team member — who remains employed — to complete a religious accommodation form so we could better understand her concern. Unfortunately, the form has yet to be submitted despite multiple requests on our part.”
Critics have long warned that forcing girls to share intimate facilities such as bathrooms, showers, and changing areas with members of the opposite sex violates their privacy rights, subjects them to needless emotional stress, and gives potential male predators a viable pretext to enter female bathrooms or lockers by simply claiming transgender status.
