Pacific Justice Institute Files Lawsuit After Oregon Caregiver Fired Over LGBTQ Training Requirement

April 28, 2026

Christian employee challenges mandate she says compelled speech and violated her beliefs

PORTLAND, Ore. - Pacific Justice Institute (PJI) has filed a federal lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon on behalf of Katherine G. Talman, a former caregiver who was terminated after refusing to complete a state-mandated LGBTQ training that she says compelled speech and violated her sincerely held Christian beliefs.

The case, Talman v. Chestnut Lane Operations, LLC, et al., challenges actions taken by the

Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), Oregon Care Partners, and Chestnut Lane Operations, LLC, an assisted living provider, following the implementation of mandatory LGBTQ-focused training requirements for caregivers.

According to the complaint, Ms. Talman worked for nearly eight years as a support services provider serving seniors and Deaf and DeafBlind individuals, maintaining a strong performance record and receiving a staff appreciation award shortly before her termination. The lawsuit states that her employment ended after she was unable to complete required training that she believed misrepresented her faith and required her to affirm viewpoints contrary to her religious convictions.

In 2024, following the passage of Oregon Senate Bill 99, ODHS required caregivers to complete LGBTQ-related training as a condition of continued employment. The training, administered through Oregon Care Partners, included content and assessment questions that Ms. Talman believed required her to affirm beliefs about gender identity and sexuality that conflicted with her understanding of biblical teaching.

The complaint further alleges that portions of the training presented religious content in a manner she believed was inaccurate and required responses that she felt would misrepresent her beliefs. Ms. Talman requested a religious accommodation, but the request was denied.

Despite making multiple efforts to seek an accommodation and attempting to obtain an exemption through appropriate channels, Ms. Talman was suspended without pay and later terminated in January 2025. The lawsuit asserts that no meaningful process was made available for individuals seeking religious exemptions.

PJI contends that the actions taken against Ms. Talman violate Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of religion, as well as protections guaranteed under the First Amendment, including freedom of speech and the free exercise of religion.

Brad Dacus, founder and president of Pacific Justice Institute, emphasized the broader implications of the case:

"No American should be forced to choose between their faith and their livelihood. When the government requires individuals to express beliefs that violate their convictions, it raises serious constitutional concerns. This case is about protecting the right of every person to live and work in accordance with their faith."

Ray Hacke, a staff attorney with PJI who represents Ms. Talman, added:

"This case raises important questions about compelled speech and religious accommodation in the workplace. Ms. Talman sought to continue serving others with integrity while remaining faithful to her beliefs. The law requires that religious convictions be respected, and that did not occur here."

The lawsuit seeks damages as well as declaratory and injunctive relief, including changes to the challenged training requirements.

Pacific Justice Institute continues to defend individuals across the nation whose religious freedoms are affected by government action.

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