Ninth Circuit Revives Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants' Religious Bias Lawsuit
The Ninth Circuit on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, revived religious-discrimination claims by former Alaska Airlines flight attendants Lacey Smith and Marli Brown, ruling they may pursue suits against Alaska Airlines and their union.[1]
The court said there is enough evidence for a jury to decide whether the pair were fired for expressing faith-based opposition to the Equality Act.[1] The ruling also lets their suit proceed against the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, which denied grievances after Alaska Airlines fired the two.[1]
On February 25, 2021, Alaska Airlines posted on its internal forum that it supported the Equality Act and invited employee comments. Smith and Brown replied with statements rooted in their Christian beliefs; the airline investigated, deleted the posts, and fired both on March 19, 2021 for violating anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies.
They sued Alaska Airlines and the union in May 2022, alleging religious discrimination under Title VII and state law. A federal judge granted summary judgment to the defendants in May 2024, and the attendants appealed; the Ninth Circuit heard argument in August 2025. The appeals court's decision sends key factual questions to a jury to decide whether Alaska Airlines' actions amounted to unlawful religious discrimination.
The mainstream summary does not mention that the Equality Act, which was central to the flight attendants' opposition, passed the House of Representatives but did not advance in the Senate, highlighting the contentious political climate surrounding such legislation. This context is crucial as it illustrates the broader legislative struggles over LGBTQ+ rights that may have influenced the airline's policies and the subsequent actions taken against Smith and Brown. The Ninth Circuit's decision, framed as a revival of religious discrimination claims, also reflects ongoing tensions between religious liberty and anti-discrimination protections, particularly in light of the Supreme Court's Bostock v. Clayton County ruling, which has led to increased litigation as employers navigate these conflicting obligations. The summary does not address how these legal precedents and cultural polarization over gender and sexuality may impact future cases like this one, where religious beliefs clash with workplace policies supporting LGBTQ+ rights.
Moreover, social media perspectives emphasize the significance of the Ninth Circuit's ruling as a potential victory for religious freedom, a framing that contrasts with the mainstream narrative focused primarily on the legal proceedings. This divergence highlights the broader implications of the case beyond just the individual circumstances of the flight attendants, suggesting that it is part of a larger cultural and legal battle over the intersection of faith and workplace rights. The summary could benefit from acknowledging these dimensions, as they provide a richer understanding of the societal context surrounding the lawsuit.
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📊 Relevant Data
The Equality Act passed the House of Representatives by a 224-206 vote on February 25, 2021, but received no further action in the Senate and did not become law.
H.R.5 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): Equality Act — congress.gov
📌 Key Facts
- On Wednesday, June 24, 2026, the Ninth Circuit ruled that ex-flight attendants Lacey Smith and Marli Brown can pursue religious discrimination claims against Alaska Airlines and their union.
- The case stems from early 2021 internal posts in which the airline announced support for the Equality Act and the attendants responded with faith-based objections in an employee forum.
- Alaska Airlines investigated and fired both attendants, labeling their comments discriminatory, hateful and offensive, a rationale now subject to jury review under federal civil-rights law.
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