St. Philip’s College in San Antonio, Texas, is facing controversy after firing biology professor Dr. Johnson Varkey for teaching his students that sex is determined by X and Y chromosomes. The decision has prompted First Liberty Institute, a law firm dedicated to protecting religious liberty, to demand the professor’s reinstatement through a letter sent to the college.
According to First Liberty, Dr. Varkey had been teaching the concept of sex determination by chromosomes for over 20 years without any incidents or complaints. In his Human Anatomy and Physiology classes, he consistently emphasized that human sex is determined by the presence of X and Y chromosomes and that reproduction requires the involvement of a male and a female. These teachings were based on an approved and science-based curriculum.
However, on November 28, 2022, four students walked out of Dr. Varkey’s class after he reiterated the well-established concept of sex determination. Subsequently, complaints were filed against him, alleging religious preaching, discriminatory remarks about homosexuals and transgender individuals, anti-abortion rhetoric, and misogynistic banter. The college contended that his teachings were religious in nature.
First Liberty Institute argued that Dr. Varkey’s teachings were supported by his education, expertise in the field of biology, and religious beliefs. They emphasized that throughout his employment, he never imposed his personal views on students, whether religious or otherwise, regarding human gender or sexuality.
As an adjunct professor, Dr. Varkey had taught Human Anatomy and Physiology to over 1,500 students at St. Philip’s College for 22 years, consistently presenting the same principles for which he was terminated. First Liberty Institute claimed that the college’s decision amounted to unlawful religious discrimination, violating the First Amendment and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Counsel for First Liberty Institute, Keisha Russell, expressed her astonishment at Dr. Varkey’s termination, given his exemplary performance reviews spanning two decades. Russell asserted that Dr. Varkey’s teachings were based on widely accepted scientific knowledge, and the college’s withdrawal of support for such concepts demonstrated a disregard for academic freedom. First Liberty Institute demanded an immediate reinstatement of the professor, highlighting the violation of his constitutional and statutory rights.
“It is preposterous that, after teaching for more than 20 years, St. Philips would fire Dr. Varkey for teaching basic, widely accepted biology,” said Keisha Russell, Counsel for First Liberty Institute, in a statement. “Dr. Varkey received exemplary performance reviews for twenty years, teaching fact-based, widely accepted science. But now that cultural elites are at odds with these ideas, the school no longer supports professors who teach them. The college violated Dr. Varkey’s constitutional and statutory rights when it fired him, and it must reinstate him immediately.”
The controversy surrounding Dr. Johnson Varkey’s dismissal has ignited a debate regarding the limits of academic freedom and the accommodation of personal beliefs within an educational institution. As the case unfolds, both proponents of religious liberty and those advocating for a more inclusive approach to education eagerly await a resolution to this contentious issue.
