Teona Pagan, a former employee of the City University of New York (CUNY), has filed a lawsuit against the university, alleging that she was wrongfully terminated after converting to Christianity. Pagan claims that her refusal to participate in an LGBT-focused fellowship program due to her religious beliefs led to her dismissal.
Pagan worked at CUNY’s Research Foundation, where she coordinated various fellowship programs, including the Mixner Fellowship, which promotes LGBT rights. After converting to Christianity in April 2022, Pagan found her role in the Mixner Fellowship conflicted with her religious beliefs. She requested to be reassigned to other programs but was denied by her supervisor and the university.
According to the lawsuit, Pagan was questioned about her beliefs during a meeting with her supervisor and the human resources director. Her request for accommodation was officially rejected in June 2022, and her contract was not renewed shortly after. CUNY cited “undue burden” as the reason for denying her request.
Pagan initially filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), but the EEOC decided not to pursue the case further. Despite the setback, Pagan has moved forward with her lawsuit, claiming that her termination was discriminatory and violated her religious freedom.
Now working at a Christian apparel company, Pagan has expressed gratitude for her journey, saying she hopes her experience will encourage others to stand firm in their faith, even when it comes at a personal cost.
