This professor is being forced to use female pronouns for a male student

When Shawnee State University professor Dr. Nicholas Meriwether responded to a male student’s question with, “yes, sir,” he didn’t think anything of it.

Dr. Meriwether has long referred to his students as “sir” or “ma’am” or by a title (Mr. or Miss, for example) followed by their last name. He does this to create an environment of seriousness and mutual respect in the classroom.

But this time was different. This time, that student approached Dr. Meriwether after class, informed him that he identified as transgender, and demanded that Dr. Meriwether refer to him as a woman, with feminine titles and pronouns. When Dr. Meriwether did not agree, the student became aggressive, circling around him, getting in his face, and even threatening to get Dr. Meriwether fired.

The student then filed a formal complaint with the university, which launched a formal investigation.

Dr. Meriwether is a Christian. He believes that God creates every person as male or female—and God does not make mistakes. To call a man a woman or vice versa would violate his conscience. So Dr. Meriwether offered a compromise. He would refer to this particular student by a first or last name only in an effort to accommodate the student.

This was a perfectly reasonable compromise that respects the freedoms of everyone involved. But it was not good enough for the student—or university officials.

They formally charged Dr. Meriwether—claiming he “created a hostile environment” for the student—and told Dr. Meriwether that he must refer to students with the pronouns of their self-asserted gender identity. Otherwise, Dr. Meriwether would be in violation of the university’s non-discrimination policy.

University officials are trying to force Dr. Meriwether to embrace and communicate their ideology, even if that means violating his religious beliefs. John, how would you feel if someone tried to force you to speak a message that violated your conscience? Or if someone tried to force you to speak something other than truth?

Dr. Meriwether refuses to be bullied. That’s why Alliance Defending Freedom filed a lawsuit against Shawnee State University on his behalf.

Unfortunately, Dr. Meriwether’s story is not rare.

Across the country, activists are trying to force people of faith to embrace their radical ideas on gender identity or face punishment. And on public university campuses in particular, the very same administrators are restricting the speech of students, faculty, and other people faith.

Via email from Alliance Defending Freedom -- info@adflegal.org.  Website here