Jessica Tapia carries Coach Kennedy’s torch in the fight for religious freedom

This article originally appeared in the Orange County Register on June 3, 2024.

In the ongoing saga of defending religious liberties, Jessica Tapia’s journey stands as a poignant reminder of the challenges faced by those who dare to uphold their faith in the public sphere. As a former teacher at California’s Jurupa Unified School District, Tapia found herself last year entangled in a legal battle when she refused to compromise her Christian beliefs in the face of institutional directives on gender identity and pronoun usage. Tapia emerged victorious, with the Jurupa Unified School District in Riverside County agreeing to pay her $360,000 in damages.

Even after Coach Joe Kennedy’s 2022 victory before the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed his right to offer a prayer on the football field, Tapia’s story illustrates the resilience still required to stand firm in the face of adversity.

Read the full article in the Orange County Register here.