A Human Anatomy and Physiology Professor Fired for Teaching Biological Facts About Sex Has Been Reinstated

A Christian biology teacher who got fired for teaching biology has been reinstated.

St. Philip’s College in San Antonio, Texas, fired Dr. Johnson Varkey, who taught Human Anatomy and Physiology, after students complained that he taught scientific facts: biology determines sex. Men have XY chromosomes, and women have XX chromosomes.

In a complaint First Liberty Institute filed on his behalf with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission last July, Dr. Varkey said that St. Philip’s College violated the Free Speech Clause and Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act, other provisions.

First Liberty announced that the parties reach a settlement, the details of which weren’t disclosed.

“We are happy that the Alamo Community College District voluntarily reinstated Dr. Varkey,” said Kayla Toney, Associate Counsel for First Liberty Institute. “He is excited by this outcome, and we are glad that ACCD did the right thing. Dr. Varkey looks forward to continuing to educate students at ACCD.”

The reinstated Christian professor said he never “preached or proselytized in class” and that the accusation was made “clearly in connection with the fact that I serve as an associate pastor. I would mention this by way of introduction at the beginning of each semester, so my students were aware.”

Photo credit: By Nightryder84 – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, link

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