California officials on Tuesday agreed to a settlement of about $200,000 between the church and Dayspring Christian Learning Center, which had sought to exclude the church from the state's preschool lunch program.

The church and center, in conjunction with the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), accused U.S. Department of Agriculture and California Department of Human Services officials of barring them from participating in “Child and Adult Food Control Programs” last June. filed a lawsuit. ” Because of religious beliefs about gender and sex. ADF and state officials filed for settlement agreement This week, the defendant was asked to pay $30,000 for meals he paid out of pocket in the absence of state funds and $160,000 in attorney fees. (Related: Supreme Court rejects trans student's request to accept bathroom lawsuit)

“In the name of fighting discrimination, government officials excluded churches and preschools from serving the El Cajon community based solely on their religious beliefs and movements,” ADF Senior Counsel Jeremiah Gallus said in a statement. press release. “We should not have filed a lawsuit to resolve this issue, but at least now the Church of Mercy can continue its important work of helping children and families in need.”

The center has been part of the USDA program for nearly 20 years. changed The 2021 rules require all participants to commit to non-discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. In May 2023, the department will also Required State directors of USDA's food and nutrition services programs called for prohibiting “discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation.”

Church of Mercy and Dayspring Christian Learning Center in 2022 due to their beliefs about “human sexuality” and their “rejection of using 'preferred' pronouns for children and employees that do not correspond to their biological nature.” failed to meet these new requirements from 2023 to 2023. “Sex” according to To the lawsuit. ADF alleged that the department and state officials intentionally discriminated against churches and learning centers because of their religious beliefs, in violation of the First Amendment.

“The government cannot withhold food from families in need simply because their children attend a Christian preschool. We are protecting them,” Gallus said in a press release.

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