Christian PA Who Was Fired Over Transgender Referrals, Pronouns Wins $410K Settlement as Hospital Adopts New Policy

Tyler O'Neil : Jul 30, 2026
Daily Signal

The hospital's new policy: The hospital notes that employees with sincerely held religious beliefs "will not be required to personally affirm statements about gender identity," will not "be required to participate in procedures, medications, or referrals" for sex-rejecting procedures, and "will not be required to use pronouns in a way that violates their religious beliefs or conscience."

[DailySignal.com] A Christian physician assistant fired after refusing to participate in transgender procedures and use preferred pronouns has reached a settlement with the University of Michigan Health-West, which agreed to adopt new religious freedom protections for employees and pay $410,000. (Screengrab image: via First Liberty)

"All I wanted to do was provide the best care possible to my patients without being forced to violate my Christian beliefs," Valerie Kloosterman, who received positive reviews while working at the hospital for 17 years before getting fired in 2021, said in a statement first provided to the Daily Signal.

Kloosterman and the hospital reached a settlement Tuesday, which requires the hospital to create a religious accommodation policy and pay $410,000 to Kloosterman and her attorneys. The presiding judge dismissed the case after the settlement.

The settlement marks a dramatic reversal from the hospital's alleged position in 2021. According to the lawsuit, hospital officials told Kloosterman she could not exercise her religious beliefs at work, labeled her "evil," blamed her for gender-related suicides, and terminated her after she sought a religious accommodation.

"Title VII [of the Civil Rights Act of 1964] prohibits employers from discriminating against and punishing employees for their faith," Kayla Toney, counsel at First Liberty, which represented Kloosterman, said in a statement. "Valerie is an exceptional physician assistant who cares for each of her patients."

"Employers cannot drive out people like Valerie just because of their sincere religious beliefs," Toney added. "We are grateful to have resolved this matter with University of Michigan Health-West."... Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

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Tyler O'Neil is senior investigative reporter at the Daily Signal and the author of two books, "Making Hate Pay: The Corruption of the Southern Poverty Law Center" and "The Woketopus: The Dark Money Cabal Manipulating the Federal Government."