First Liberty Institute filed a charge of discrimination with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) against Bath & Body Works on behalf of Jocelyn Boden, a former store manager in Utah, after the chain fired her for refusing to adhere to the company’s pronoun policy because of her religious beliefs.
You can read the charge here.
“No one should be forced to choose between their job and their faith,” said Stephanie Taub, Senior Counsel for First Liberty Institute. “Bath & Body Works could have easily worked with Jocelyn and offered an accommodation, but instead they choose to violate state and federal law and fire her. Forcing employees to violate their conscience and religious convictions violates the federal Civil Rights Act.”
Jocelyn Boden is a long-established member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who often discusses her faith in the workplace. She was a store manager at Bath & Body Works in Utah for three and a half years. In April 2025, she hired a new employee who identified as transgender. Jocelyn’s religious convictions influence how she thinks about human nature, gender, sexuality, and social issues. Jocelyn and the transgender employee worked together only one day, and after Jocelyn refused to use male pronouns when speaking about her because of her religious and moral convictions, a complaint was filed with human resources accusing Jocelyn of “misgendering.” Jocelyn was terminated in May 2025.
The EEOC can choose to launch an investigation into Bath & Body Works’ actions against Jocelyn.
