(Miami Herald) – Grocery store giant Kroger is accused in federal court filings of violating the Civil Rights Act when it reportedly fired two employees who did not want to wear a store apron supporting the LGBTQ community.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, a federal agency tasked with enforcing anti-discrimination laws in the workplace, filed suit Monday in federal court against the Kroger Co. on behalf of two store employees in Arkansas, Brenda Lawson and Trudy Rickerd, who say they believe homosexuality is a sin.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 bars discriminatory employment practices on the basis of religion. “(Kroger) refused to accommodate the religious beliefs of Lawson and Rickerd, and disciplined and terminated them because of their religious beliefs and in retaliation for requesting a religious accommodation,” the EEOC said in the complaint.

A representative for Kroger did not immediately respond to McClatchy News’ request for comment. Kroger is an Ohio-based grocery store chain with locations in 35 states, including California, Florida, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas.

It was deemed one of the best places to work for LGBTQ equality in 2020 by the Human Rights Campaign with a perfect score on the Corporate Equality Index, according to its website. Kroger was also named the Human Rights Campaign Company of the Year in Greater Cincinnati. “At The Kroger Co., we embrace diversity and inclusion as core values, and we ingrain these in everything we do,” the website for Kroger Pride states. READ MORE