Billard v. Charlotte Catholic High School
What's at Stake
Lonnie Billard worked at Charlotte Catholic High School for more than a decade 鈥� both as full-time drama and as a long-term substitute teacher 鈥� and has won numerous teaching awards, including teacher of the year. In October 2014, Lonnie wrote a Facebook post announcing that he and his long-time partner were getting married. Later that year, the school told Lonnie he could no longer work as a substitute teacher because his engagement and marriage to another man was contrary to the religious principles of the Catholic Church.
Summary
The ACLU, 桃子视频of North Carolina, and Tin Fulton Walker & Owen filed a lawsuit in the Western District of North Carolina under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of sex. Firing an employee for marrying a same-sex partner qualifies as sex-based discrimination under Title VII. Even though Mr. Billard worked at a private religious school, the school cannot illegally engage in sex discrimination against an employee who performs only secular job functions.
Update: On May 8, 2024, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit held that Mr. Billard was not protected by Title VII because his job fell within the 鈥渕inisterial exception鈥� to Title VII.
Legal Documents
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05/09/2024
Amended Opinion -
12/16/2022
Appellants' Reply Brief -
11/30/2022
Amicus Briefs in Support of Appellee -
- Amicus Brief of Americans United for Separation of Church and State et al.
- Amicus Brief of National Women's Law Center et al.
- Amicus Brief of Massachusetts et al.
Billard v. Charlotte Catholic High SchoolLegal DocumentsAmicus Brief of Americans United for Separation of Church and State et al.Date Filed: 11/30/2022
Court: Appeals Court (4th Cir.)
Affiliate: North Carolina
Billard v. Charlotte Catholic High SchoolLegal DocumentsAmicus Brief of National Women's Law Center et al.Date Filed: 11/30/2022
Court: Appeals Court (4th Cir.)
Affiliate: North Carolina
Billard v. Charlotte Catholic High SchoolLegal DocumentsAmicus Brief of Massachusetts et al.Date Filed: 11/30/2022
Court: Appeals Court (4th Cir.)
Affiliate: North Carolina
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11/23/2022
Brief of Plaintiff-Appellee -
09/22/2022
Appellants' Opening Brief
Date Filed: 05/09/2024
Court: Appeals Court (4th Cir.)
Affiliate: North Carolina
Date Filed: 12/16/2022
Court: Appeals Court (4th Cir.)
Affiliate: North Carolina
Date Filed: 11/23/2022
Court: Appeals Court (4th Cir.)
Affiliate: North Carolina
Date Filed: 09/22/2022
Court: Appeals Court (4th Cir.)
Affiliate: North Carolina
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03/18/2022
Order and Judgment -
09/03/2021
Order Granting Plaintiff鈥檚 Motion for Partial Summary Judgment and Denying Defendants鈥� Motion for Summary Judgment -
09/22/2017
Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment -
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10/05/2017
Plaintiff's Opposition to Motion for Summary Judgment -
10/12/2017
Defendant's Reply Brief in Support of Motion for Summary Judgment -
07/16/2018
Defendant's Supplemental Memo in Support of Motion for Summary Judgment -
08/14/2020
Defendant's Supplemental Reply in Support of Motion for Summary Judgment
Billard v. Charlotte Catholic High SchoolLegal DocumentsPlaintiff's Opposition to Motion for Summary JudgmentDate Filed: 10/05/2017
Court: District Court (W.D.N.C.)
Affiliate: North Carolina
Billard v. Charlotte Catholic High SchoolLegal DocumentsDefendant's Reply Brief in Support of Motion for Summary JudgmentDate Filed: 10/12/2017
Court: District Court (W.D.N.C.)
Affiliate: North Carolina
Billard v. Charlotte Catholic High SchoolLegal DocumentsDefendant's Supplemental Memo in Support of Motion for Summary JudgmentDate Filed: 07/16/2018
Court: District Court (W.D.N.C.)
Affiliate: North Carolina
Billard v. Charlotte Catholic High SchoolLegal DocumentsDefendant's Supplemental Reply in Support of Motion for Summary JudgmentDate Filed: 08/14/2020
Court: District Court (W.D.N.C.)
Affiliate: North Carolina
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10/05/2017
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09/21/2017
Plaintiff's Motion for Partial Summary Judgment -
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10/12/2017
Plaintiff's Reply Brief in Support of Motion for Partial Summary Judgment -
07/30/2018
Defendant's Opposition to Motion for Partial Summary Judgment -
08/07/2020
Plaintiff's Supplemental Memo in Support of Motion for Partial Summary Judgment -
10/28/2020
Plaintiff's Supplemental Reply in Support of Motion for Partial Summary Judgment
Billard v. Charlotte Catholic High SchoolLegal DocumentsPlaintiff's Reply Brief in Support of Motion for Partial Summary JudgmentDate Filed: 10/12/2017
Court: District Court (W.D.N.C.)
Affiliate: North Carolina
Billard v. Charlotte Catholic High SchoolLegal DocumentsDefendant's Opposition to Motion for Partial Summary JudgmentDate Filed: 07/30/2018
Court: District Court (W.D.N.C.)
Affiliate: North Carolina
Billard v. Charlotte Catholic High SchoolLegal DocumentsPlaintiff's Supplemental Memo in Support of Motion for Partial Summary JudgmentDate Filed: 08/07/2020
Court: District Court (W.D.N.C.)
Affiliate: North Carolina
Billard v. Charlotte Catholic High SchoolLegal DocumentsPlaintiff's Supplemental Reply in Support of Motion for Partial Summary JudgmentDate Filed: 10/28/2020
Court: District Court (W.D.N.C.)
Affiliate: North Carolina
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10/12/2017
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01/11/2017
Complaint
Date Filed: 03/18/2022
Court: District Court (W.D.N.C.)
Affiliate: North Carolina
Date Filed: 09/03/2021
Court: District Court (W.D.N.C.)
Affiliate: North Carolina
Date Filed: 09/22/2017
Court: District Court (W.D.N.C.)
Affiliate: North Carolina
Date Filed: 09/21/2017
Court: District Court (W.D.N.C.)
Affiliate: North Carolina
Date Filed: 01/11/2017
Court: District Court (W.D.N.C.)
Affiliate: North Carolina
Press Releases
Fourth Circuit Upholds Dismissal of Gay Teacher from North Carolina Catholic School