An Indiana high school did not break the law when it forced a music teacher to resign after he refused on religious grounds to use names preferred by transgender students, a US appeals court ruled on Friday, AFP reported.

Teacher John Kluge’s right to exercise his religious beliefs was outweighed by the potential disruption his behavior could have on the learning environment at Brownsburg High School in suburban Indianapolis, Chicago’s 7th Circuit Court of Appeals said.

Kluge stated that his Christian religious beliefs prevented him from following a school policy that requires teachers to use names and pronouns that students prefer.

The school initially allowed Kluge to call students by their last names, but reversed that decision after receiving complaints from students and faculty, according to court documents. He said he resigned in 2018 after being told he would be fired.

In 2019, Kluge sued the school district, accusing it of violating a federal law that prohibits discrimination in the workplace based on religion. He sought restitution for his work and unspecified monetary compensation.

Kluge represents the Alliance for Freedom, a conservative Christian legal group. Rory Gray, an attorney for the group, said it was evaluating Kluge’s options.

“The 7th Circuit’s decision shows why the Supreme Court must set the standard for religious service accommodations,” Gray said in a statement.

Attorneys for the school did not respond to a request for comment.

Federal law requires employers to accommodate employees’ religious beliefs only if doing so would not cause them undue hardship. (photo: Svetlanaz, Dreamstime.com)