Experienced biology professor who taught sex is determined by chromosomes X and Y is fired

A veteran Texas biology professor who has taught that sex is determined by X and Y chromosomes for more than 20 years was reportedly fired after four students left his classroom.

Dr. Johnson Varkey has claimed he was fired from his teaching position at St. Philip’s College in San Antonio after being charged with “religious preaching.”

He was discussing the human reproductive system on November 28, 2022, when four students stormed out of class.

Varkey was subsequently charged with “discriminatory remarks about gay and transgender people, anti-abortion rhetoric and misogynistic banter.”

The professor said he received an email from the Alamo Colleges District Human Resources Department in January saying his credentials would be revoked pending an investigation. He was later fired.

He has claimed he was fired from his teaching position at St. Philip’s College in San Antonio, Texas after being charged with “religious preaching”

Lawyers from the First Liberty Institute representing Varkey sent a letter to St. Philip’s College last week demanding that he be reinstated.

In January 2023, St. Philip’s College fired Dr. Varkey for teaching human biology just as he did in his previous 20-year career as a professor.

“His statements are not only supported by his extensive education and experience, but also reflect his sincere religious beliefs.”

The law firm argued that the firing of Varkey, who taught human anatomy and physiology at the university for 22 years, violated federal and state laws and targeted his First Amendment rights.

Varkey is also an associate pastor at a local church and a devout Christian who follows the religion’s teachings on sexuality and abortion.

But his lawyer added that he did not express any of those beliefs in class.

“As evidenced by his outstanding performance reviews, Dr. Varkey is happy to teach students of all persuasions and backgrounds,” the letter continued.

“During his tenure, he never discussed his personal views—religious or otherwise—on human gender or sexuality with any student.”

Varkey was accused of ‘discriminatory remarks about homosexuals and transgender people, anti-abortion rhetoric and misogynistic banter’

Lawyers representing him, from the First Liberty Institute, sent a letter to St. Philip’s College demanding that he be reinstated. Pictured: Varkey preaching at International Bible Church in February

In January, Varkey was told that he would not be teaching in the spring and that he would not have further teaching opportunities at St. Philip’s College.

On November 28, 2022, four students of Dr. Varkey left his class when he declared, consistent with his study of human biology and his religious beliefs, that sex was determined by chromosomes X and Y.’

The lawyers argued that Varkey taught on a school-approved science-based curriculum, but the college claimed his teaching was religious.

“While some of the curriculum may be related to classroom content, the complaints made it very clear that you overstepped the boundaries of academic freedom with your personal opinions that were offensive to many people in the classroom,” school officials said. him in a letter.

Varkey was told that he would not be teaching in the spring and that he would no longer be taught at St. Philip’s College.

St. Philip’s has not publicly responded to the letter.

The community college has previously received complaints from conservative-minded professors, with political science professor Will Moravits claiming last month that his contract was terminated over his beliefs over student complaints.

A lawyer representing Moravits said he tried to get them to “involve all sides of controversial issues, such as police brutality and gender ideology.” Many of his conversations with students during class discussions were direct answers to their questions.’