The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals recently overturned a lower court's decision, ruling that Charlotte Catholic High School in North Carolina did not violate federal civil rights law by firing Lonnie Billard, a gay drama and English teacher, after he announced his same-sex marriage on social media in 2017. The court, led by Judge Pamela Harris, found that Billard, who had been employed for a decade, played a critical religious role which justified the school's action under a religious exemption. This decision has been recognized as a significant victory for religious and conservative advocacy groups, emphasizing the broad freedom religious schools have in choosing their teachers based on adherence to religious principles.