Christian Nurse Demoted after Using Male Pronouns for Transgender Patient

A nurse in the United Kingdom faces disciplinary action and the potential loss of her job after referring to a biological male who identifies as female as “mister.” The controversy began May 22, 2024, when Jennifer Melle began her shift and soon learned that a prisoner who was a convicted sex offender had entered the hospital for treatment. He was chained to two guards and was masculine in appearance, according to the Christian Legal Centre, which is representing her in a lawsuit. 

Around 10 p.m., Melle was told that the prisoner -- “Mr. X” in court documents -- had become upset and wanted to self-discharge. Melle, the senior nurse on duty, approached him as she spoke to a doctor on the telephone.

“Mr. X would like to self-discharge,” Melle told the doctor.

The prisoner, though, became furious, shouting, “Do not call me Mr.! I am a woman,” according to the Christian Legal Centre. The prisoner identified as transgender.  

After Melle finished her phone conversation, she told Mr. X that her Christian faith precluded her from referring to him with female pronouns, although she said she would use his preferred name. 

The prisoner, though, began calling her the N-word and within moments “lunged threateningly towards” her as guards held him back. Melle moved to the U.K. from Uganda as a child.

An investigation concluded that Melle had violated policy by not using the prisoner’s preferred pronouns. A report cited a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Code of Conduct, which states that nurses should “not express your personal beliefs (including political, religious or moral beliefs) in an inappropriate way.”

“Therefore, although [Melle] felt unable to identify Patient X using the preferred pronouns due to her religion, as outlined in the NMC Code of Conduct, it could be perceived that [Jennifer’s] actions could … be seen as a potential breach of the code,” the report said. 

She was accused of “not respecting the patient’s preferred identity.”

Melle faced a disciplinary hearing in October 2024 and was demoted, given a final warning, and her name “was wiped off the internal system, making it difficult to apply for extra shifts at the hospital,” the legal group said.

Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, defended Melle.

“The NHS appears to remain captured by transgender ideology to the point it is prepared to back a convicted paedophile, who was clearly very disturbed and shouting racist comments, over the Christian nurse,” Williams said. “Jennifer Melle was genuinely doing her best while not wanting to deny her Christian faith and biological reality.”

Melle, meanwhile, said she simply wants to do her job.

“My conduct throughout this incident and during my career has been fully compliant with the code,” she said. “I have been put at risk, but I am being treated like a criminal. Sadly, if you put your head above the parapet and speak truthfully on these issues in the NHS, the risk is that you will be knocked down, punished severely, and demoted.

“The message to me during the investigation is that I should put up with extreme racism and deny biological reality and my deeply held Christian beliefs for the sake of ‘inclusivity’ and respecting lies,” Melle added. “It feels like I am dreaming, but I am trusting in Jesus to look after me. I have to take a stand on this issue and am concerned about how many other NHS workers are suffering in silence during similar experiences.”

Photo Credit: ©Facebook/Gershwin Catz

Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel. 

Originally published March 25, 2025.