Luke Ash alleges religious discrimination; the current motion concerns which officials and entities should remain in the case.
A Louisiana pastor fired from his library job after a dispute over pronouns is opposing an effort to remove several defendants from his federal religious-discrimination lawsuit.
Liberty Counsel filed the response October 6 on behalf of Luke Ash, a bi-vocational pastor who worked at the East Baton Rouge Parish Library.
Ash alleges that he was dismissed in July 2025 after refusing to use male pronouns for a transgender coworker because doing so conflicted with his Christian beliefs about sex and truthfulness. He says the library failed to consider a religious accommodation.
The current dispute concerns the parties named in the lawsuit.
According to Ash’s response brief, the defendants argue that claims against officials in their official capacities duplicate claims against the city-parish government. They also contend that certain library and governing entities cannot be sued independently.
Ash’s attorneys argue that those parties may be necessary to provide the relief he seeks and should remain while factual questions are resolved.
The motion described in the response would leave the City of Baton Rouge/Parish of East Baton Rouge as a defendant.
Ash seeks reinstatement, backpay, damages and an injunction against the policy. His claim that the dismissal violated federal and state law remains an allegation, not an established court finding.
Illustrative photograph of Lady Justice. Photo by Tingey Injury Law Firm on Unsplash.
