A University of Louisville professor is suing school officials for not renewing his contract over his views on the treatment of youth experiencing gender dysphoria.
The lawsuit, which was filed last week by a conservative civil liberties group called the Alliance Defending Freedom on the behalf of psychology professor Dr. Allan M. Josephson, alleges the university of demoting and harassing Josephson for expressing his views.
During a panel discussion at The Heritage Foundation in the fall of 2017, Josephson said that young children shouldn’t undergo treatment for gender dysphoria.
“When you think of it, children don’t know much about anything — and I say this with respect — I’ve raised three…but they don’t know anything at the age of 7, 8, or 9. Why should we listen to a 9-year-old about what time they’re going to bed? We don’t let them vote, we don’t let them drive, and so are we going to let them at the age of 8 or 9 decide they are no longer male or female? Unbelievable!” Josephson told the panel in 2017.
Angered by his views, a few of Josephson’s colleagues sought disciplinary action from the university, who in turn, demoted him to the role of a junior faculty member and later assigned him work typically given to less experienced faculty.
“They took all these retaliatory actions with an eye to ensuring that neither he nor anyone else dares to express viewpoints they find objectionable on medical and psychiatric issues,” the lawsuit states.
Earlier this year, the university also announced that it will not renew Josephson’s contract, which is set to expire on June 30, 2019.
“Universities are supposed to be a marketplace of ideas, but the University of Louisville is turning itself into an assembly line of one thought,” Travis Barham, ADF senior counsel, said.
“Dr. Josephson has had a long and distinguished career at the University of Louisville, leading and rebuilding its child psychiatry program. Public universities have no business demoting or firing professors simply because they hold a different view than their colleagues or the administration, but that’s exactly what’s happened here.”
Meanwhile, a university spokesman confirmed Josephson’s employment with the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology. However, he refused to comment on the allegations levied by the professor.
“Beyond that, the university typically does not comment on pending litigation,” university spokesman John Karman told USA Today. “I’m not able to comment on personnel matters that are part of active litigation.”
