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Nicholas Meriwether, a teacher at Shawnee State University, has filed a lawsuit against the school in Ohio federal court last week after the school allegedly violated his religious beliefs. The professor claims that the university punished him for refusing to address a male-born transgender student as a woman.
From the Daily Mail:
He contends they violated his rights by compelling him to speak in a way that contradicts his religious beliefs as a Christian. Meriwether argued he didn’t discriminate and that he treated the student like ‘other biologically male students.’ He unsuccessfully challenged his reprimand in a grievance process.
His statement reads, “In January 2018, a male student demanded that Dr. Meriwether address him as a woman because he identified as such and threatened to have Dr. Meriwether fired if he declined.
“To accede to these demands would have required Dr. Meriwether to communicate views regarding gender identity that he does not hold, that he does not wish to communicate, and that would contradict (and force him to violate) his sincerely held Christian beliefs.”
Alrighty then. Welcome to 2018.
The suit was filed by the Alliance Defending Freedom, which is a Christian conservative law firm in Arizona. The Southern Poverty Law Center accuses the Alliance Defending Freedom of being a hate group for its efforts to recriminalize homosexuality.
Despite the controversy surrounding their punishment of Meriwether, the university says that they respect all religious beliefs.
“We expect that as this case progresses, and details come to light, it will become clear that we made decisions in an effort to both respect our faculty member’s deep-rooted religious beliefs and our student’s right to equal treatment in the classroom,” Shawnee State University said in a statement.
Do you think Meriwether will be successful in his lawsuit against the school? Sound off in the comments section below with your thoughts.