Spencer Wimmer, a Wisconsin man, is asking the Trump administration to intervene after being fired for refusing to use transgender pronouns at work.
Wimmer says the termination violated his deeply held Christian beliefs.
His case now tests the boundaries between religious liberty and modern workplace gender identity rules.
Spencer Wimmer says faith cost him job over pronouns
Spencer Wimmer worked five years at Generac Power Systems. He received multiple promotions and performance awards. He believed he had a stable, long-term career.
That changed after a conversation with Human Resources. Wimmer refused to use a colleague’s preferred pronouns, citing his Biblical view that there are only two immutable genders.
Although Wimmer had worked alongside transgender coworkers without conflict, HR labeled his actions “unprofessional.” They reprimanded him and later fired him.
Wimmer described the experience as “heartbreaking.” He said it forced him to choose between his job and his religious convictions.
Fired worker appeals to Trump’s EEOC, cites religious bias
Wimmer has filed a religious discrimination complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL) is representing him.
WILL claims Generac violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which bars employment discrimination based on religion.
Wimmer says he never sought conflict. “There was absolutely a way for us to work together professionally,” he said. “But my beliefs were not acceptable to them.”
According to WILL, security escorted Wimmer out of the building on April 2 after firing him, without allowing him access to his personal belongings.
Legal team says gender policy defies religious freedom ruling
Cara Tolliver, a WILL attorney, says the case puts recent precedent to the test.
Additionally, she cites the 2023 Groff v. DeJoy decision, which expanded workplace religious protections.
She argues that gender identity policies must not override rights to religious expression. “Religious discrimination is illegal,” she said. “Title VII protects people of faith, too.”
Tolliver criticized modern workplace trends. “Employers have become fixated on identity politics. But those policies cannot cancel out protections for religious beliefs.”
The case could have nationwide implications if accepted by the Trump-era EEOC for formal review.
Wimmer hopes Trump administration will defend religious workers in future policy decisions.
Though the Trump administration has reversed many DEI and gender-based mandates, Wimmer says individual workers remain vulnerable.
He hopes Donald Trump will support his cause and protect religious freedom in future workplace policies.
“I was asked to choose between my livelihood and my love for God and my beliefs,” said Wimmer, adding that it was “very emotional having everything kind of ripped out from under me.”
Wimmer is challenging his firing and seeking support from the Trump administration.
His appeal to the EEOC highlights a growing national debate. At the center is whether employees must affirm gender identity against their religious beliefs—or risk losing their jobs.