Iowa Man Settles Lawsuit Over Bible Verse T-Shirts Worn During Pride Month

In a striking clash of personal conviction and corporate policy, Corey Cunningham, an Iowa man and devout Christian, has settled a lawsuit against his former employer, Eaton Corp, after being fired for wearing Bible verse t-shirts during the company’s Pride Month celebrations in June 2023. The settlement, finalized on May 20, 2025, marks the end of a heated legal battle over religious freedom and workplace expression.

Cunningham, a quality assurance manager at Eaton since 2019, claimed his termination stemmed from religious discrimination. His lawsuit detailed how Eaton’s increasing emphasis on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, including mandatory training and Pride Month events, clashed with his faith. On June 2, 2023, Eaton raised a Pride flag and encouraged employees to wear supportive colors or themed t-shirts. Cunningham responded by donning shirts with Bible verses, including Proverbs 16:18, which reads, “Pride goes before destruction, an arrogant spirit before a fall,” and Genesis 9:13, referencing the rainbow as a divine covenant.

The response was swift. Cunningham alleged he was singled out during DEI training for rejecting 'woke' pronouns and later called into HR meetings where his t-shirts were deemed 'inflammatory' and unsettling to some colleagues. Despite requesting a religious accommodation to continue wearing the shirts, Eaton denied his appeals and sent him home twice for non-compliance. By August 23, 2023, he was fired for violating the company’s harassment policy.

Cunningham’s fight didn’t end there. He filed complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Iowa Civil Rights Commission before escalating the case to federal court in August 2024. Eaton’s legal team argued their actions were non-discriminatory, citing legitimate business reasons. Yet, the out-of-court settlement suggests a mutual agreement to avoid further escalation, though details remain undisclosed.

This case underscores a broader cultural tension: the balance between individual beliefs and corporate mandates. As companies push DEI frameworks, employees like Cunningham are testing the limits of personal expression in the workplace, raising questions about where the line is drawn.