Peoria Unified settles gender discrimination lawsuit with nonbinary former teacher

River Chunnui, a nonbinary former special education teacher, settled a gender discrimination lawsuit against the Peoria Unified School District after suffering harassment linked to an email about International Transgender Day of Visibility. The lawsuit detailed retaliatory actions, including vandalism of Chunnui's home and public smear campaigns by district officials. Following the email, which aimed to support students, Chunnui was placed on administrative leave despite an investigation clearing them of any wrongdoing. The district's Governing Board, led by President Heather Rooks, voted against renewing Chunnui's contract, which drew significant public backlash. Peoria Unified's spokesperson stated the settlement was in the district's best interest, reaffirming its focus on education.

Chunnui addressed the board, emphasizing their role as an advocate for all students and thanking Rooks for inadvertently pushing them into activism. The case underscores ongoing conflicts surrounding LGBTQ+ rights in educational settings. Harassment claims against LGBTQ+ educators have become a focal point in national discussions about education and inclusion.