Federal Appeals Court Reinstates Lawsuit by Flight Attendants Fired Over Religious Objections to Equality Act Support

A federal appeals court has revived a lawsuit initiated by two former flight attendants against Alaska Airlines, asserting they were terminated due to their religious beliefs. The employees had voiced objections to the airline's endorsement of the Equality Act, leading to their dismissal.

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a ruling on Wednesday, determining there is adequate evidence for a jury to assess whether Lacey Smith and Marli Brown's dismissals were a direct result of their religious convictions. This decision allows their legal challenge against the airline to move forward.

Background of the Dispute

The controversy originated in early 2021 when Alaska Airlines announced its support for the proposed Equality Act on an internal online platform accessible to employees. The Equality Act, championed by then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, aimed to incorporate sexual orientation and gender identity as protected categories under federal civil rights legislation concerning employment, housing, and other areas. The bill successfully passed the House of Representatives in February 2021.

The airline invited employees to share their thoughts and comments on the online forum. During this discussion, Lacey Smith posted a question asking, "As a company, do you think it’s possible to regulate morality?" Concurrently, Marli Brown submitted a comment articulating her deeply held religious convictions, suggesting that the Equality Act could negatively impact women, girls, and individuals of faith.

Following these remarks on the company's internal forum, both Smith and Brown faced investigations and were subsequently fired from their positions. Alaska Airlines characterized their comments as "discriminatory," "hateful," and "offensive."

Legal Challenge Proceeds

Stephanie Taub, senior counsel at First Liberty Institute, which represents Smith and Brown and argued their case before the court in August 2025, expressed satisfaction with the appellate court's decision.

"We are grateful the court recognized the clear evidence of religious discrimination against Marli and Lacey by both Alaska Airlines and the flight attendants’ union," Taub stated. "The Ninth Circuit’s decision today reinforces that federal civil rights laws protect people of faith from discrimination by their employer or their union. You cannot be fired because your employer does not like your religious beliefs."

The ruling underscores the protection afforded to individuals of faith under federal civil rights statutes, ensuring that employment decisions are not based on an employer's disapproval of an employee's religious beliefs.