Spencer Wimmer, a Wisconsin man, is seeking intervention from the Trump administration after he claims he was fired from his job at Generac for refusing to use preferred pronouns that conflict with a person’s biological sex. Wimmer, a devout Christian, believes that he was forced to choose between his livelihood and his faith, leading him to file a religious discrimination complaint through the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL) to the Trump U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
Wimmer had worked at Generac for five years and had received positive performance reviews and promotions, leading him to believe he had a promising career at the company. However, things took a turn when he was confronted by human resources about his refusal to use someone’s preferred pronouns. Wimmer’s religious beliefs dictate that there are only two genders and that a person cannot switch between them, leading to his refusal to use transgender pronouns.
Despite having a good working relationship with a transgender colleague in the past, Wimmer found himself reprimanded for his refusal to use preferred pronouns based on religious grounds. After feeling targeted and bullied for his beliefs, Wimmer was ultimately fired from his supervisor role at Generac. He described the experience as “heartbreaking” and felt like he had to choose between his livelihood and his faith.
WILL, the firm representing Wimmer, argues that Generac violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act by discriminating against him based on his religious beliefs. They believe that his case could have broader implications for Americans facing similar situations in the workplace. The case challenges the validity of an employer’s compelled gender affirmation policy against an employee’s sincerely held religious beliefs.
See also Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s tough Bronx persona is under fresh scrutiny with a resurfaced childhood nickname from her suburban upstate New York upbringing casting doubt on that publicly portrayed image. The progressive champion’s latest spat with President Donald Trump over the Iran strikes again called into question her true upbringing when she declared on X she was a “Bronx girl" to make her a point against the president. The 35-year-old congresswoman wrote in part on X: "I’m a Bronx girl. You should know that we can eat Queens boys for breakfast. Respectfully," she said, referring to the president’s upbringing in Queens as she called for his impeachment over his decision to bypass Congress in authorizing U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Ocasio-Cortez was born in the Bronx but moved to Yorktown – which is nearly an hour outside New York City -- when she was 5 years old and went on to attend Yorktown High School where she graduated in 2007. She was considered an accomplished student there and well thought of by teacher Michael Blueglass, according to a 2018 report by local media outlet Halston Media News. “There, known by students and staff as ‘Sandy,’ she was a member of the Science Research Program taught by Michael Blueglass," the report states. “She was amazing," Blueglass said, per the report. “Aside from her winning one of the top spots and going to the [Intel International Science and Engineering Fair], she was just one of the most amazing presenters in all of the years I've been at Yorktown. Her ability to take complex information and explain it to all different levels of people was fantastic." After high school, Ocasio-Cortez attended Boston University, where she majored in economics and international relations, per the report. Ocasio-Cortez’s “Sandy" nickname — which carries a more suburban and preppy tone — appears to undercut her politically crafted image as a tough, inner-city fighter, one she has portrayed since her famous 2018 congressional campaign where she eventually ousted former 10-terms Congressman Joe Crowley. New York GOP Assemblyman Matt Slater, who now represents Yorktown, added to the scrutiny of Ocasio-Cortez’s persona in the wake of her brash with Trump and released images of Ocasio-Cortez from his high school yearbook. He claimed he and the rising Democratic star attended Yorktown High School at the same time when she was a freshman and he was a senior. "I saw the attacks on the president and her [Ocasio-Cortez] claims that she's a big, tough Bronx girl," said Slater. "To sit there and say that she’s a Bronx girl is just patently ridiculous." "Everybody in our community knows this is just a bold-face lie," said Slater on "Fox & Friends First" last week. "She grew up in Yorktown, she was on my track team." "She's lying about her background, she's lying about her upbringing," Slater claimed. Slater’s post sent social media ablaze and prompted Ocasio-Cortez to respond after an image if her family’s home was posted online. “I’m proud of how I grew up and talk about it all the time," Ocasio-Cortez wrote on X Friday responding to the post. “My mom cleaned houses and I helped. We cleaned tutors’ homes in exchange for SAT prep." “Growing up between the Bronx and Yorktown deeply shaped my views of inequality & it’s a big reason I believe the things I do today!"
Wimmer expressed that he never asked Generac to choose between him and his transgender colleague, and believes that there could have been a compromise to maintain a professional environment. However, he feels that his beliefs were deemed unacceptable by the company, leaving no room for compromise.
In response to requests for comment, Generac declined to provide a statement on the matter. Wimmer hopes that President Donald Trump will take action on his behalf and address workplace discrimination tied to gender identity policies. The case highlights the ongoing challenges faced by individuals who hold religious beliefs that conflict with workplace diversity and inclusion practices.
