Teona Pagan, a former staff member at the City University of New York (CUNY), has filed a lawsuit against the university, alleging wrongful termination after her conversion to Christianity. Pagan claims she was fired after requesting a religious accommodation that would allow her to avoid participating in an LGBT-focused fellowship program.
Pagan, who began working at CUNY in November 2021, converted to Christianity in April 2022 and soon found her duties as the coordinator of the Mixner Fellowship, which promotes LGBT rights, in conflict with her religious beliefs. She requested to be reassigned to other fellowship programs but was denied.
According to the lawsuit, Pagan was questioned about her faith during a meeting with her supervisor and the human resources director. Her request was officially rejected in June 2022, with the university citing “undue burden” as the reason. Days later, Pagan was placed on administrative leave and told her contract would not be renewed.
Pagan initially filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), but the commission declined to pursue further investigation. She is now suing CUNY for religious discrimination, seeking compensation for her wrongful termination.
Since leaving CUNY, Pagan has taken a job at a Christian apparel company. She has spoken about the peace she has found in her faith, saying that her journey has strengthened her resolve to stand up for her beliefs.
