First Liberty, a legal organization focused on defending religious liberty, has filed a discrimination charge with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission against St. Philip’s College in San Antonio, Texas. The charge was filed on behalf of Dr. Johnson Varkey, a biology professor who was fired after teaching basic biology. In his course on Human Anatomy and Physiology, Dr. Varkey explained to his students that sex is determined by chromosomes X and Y.
After four students complained about Dr. Varkey’s explanation of sex, St. Philip’s College terminated his employment. The college accused him of engaging in religious preaching, making discriminatory comments about homosexuals and transgender individuals, promoting anti-abortion rhetoric, and exhibiting misogynistic banter. The college claimed that he pushed beyond the bounds of academic freedom with his personal opinions.
Dr. Varkey, a devout Christian, denies preaching to students in his classes and says that he never mentioned his religious beliefs. He believes in the Christian teachings of God creating humankind male and female and emphasizes the importance of respecting and caring for one’s biological sex. He maintains that his teaching is based on accurate and true concepts supported by his years of research and study in the field of human biology.
The discrimination charge filed by First Liberty alleges that St. Philip’s College violated both Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Texas Commission on Human Rights Act by terminating Dr. Varkey based on his protected speech, religious beliefs, and identity as a Christian.