Alaska Airlines Employees Dismissed Over Criticism of Equal Rights Legislation
Two former Alaska Airlines employees, Marli Brown and Lacey Smith, are challenging a decision that dismissed their claims of religious discrimination after they were terminated for expressing concerns over the airline’s backing of a federal non-discrimination measure. The pair argue that they were fired in early 2021 for voicing their opinions about the Equality Act, a legislative proposal that seeks to extend protections to individuals based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
An appeal was recently submitted in the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on their behalf. The petition contends that the employees’ comments were made on an internal forum designed to encourage open dialogue and the sharing of diverse perspectives. According to the appeal, when the airline announced its support for the proposed legislation on its private employee network, Brown and Smith responded based on their personal religious beliefs.
The appeal explains that one employee expressed concerns that the Equality Act could adversely affect women, girls, and people of faith, while the other questioned whether the company believed it had the authority to regulate morality. The airline allegedly received notification of these remarks from a union representative, after which its leadership reportedly dismissed the employees while demeaning their religious views.
Representatives for the petitioners contend that firing employees for sharing their religious beliefs is unacceptable and ask the court to overturn the lower court’s decision. They maintain that the disciplinary actions taken were an attempt to silence criticism, rather than a justified business decision.
Alaska Airlines is among numerous businesses that have endorsed the proposed Equality Act, a measure that its proponents argue is vital for safeguarding LGBT rights in the workplace—a concern particularly significant in states lacking explicit protections. Critics, however, worry that the Act could foster a challenging environment for business owners who uphold traditional views on marriage and gender roles.
Previously, in 2021, complaints were filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on behalf of the two former employees. Although the EEOC subsequently issued Notices of Right to Sue, a U.S. District Court judge later ruled that the firings were reflective of reasonable business practices rather than an act of religious discrimination. The judge cited the demanding work environment and the close quarters in which employees operate as factors that justified the airline’s decision.
The case now moves forward in the appeals process as Brown and Smith, supported by legal advocacy groups, continue their fight for what they describe as protection against discrimination based on religious belief.
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