Dr. Johnson Varkey, a Texas-based Indian American biology professor, has been reinstated to his position a year after being terminated for teaching fundamental human biology and reproduction concepts to his students. St. Philip’s College in San Antonio, where he taught, discharged him for instructing that sex is determined by X and Y chromosomes, aligning with his scientific study. The college, known as a historically Black and Hispanic-serving institution, faced legal action from First Liberty Institute, which advocated for Varkey’s case.
After First Liberty Institute filed a discrimination charge at the EEOC against St. Philip’s and the Alamo Community College District, and with intervention from various Members of Congress, Varkey’s reappointment was ensured. As part of the settlement, the college committed to Varkey’s return to teaching in spring 2024. Moreover, Varkey is entitled to undisclosed monetary compensation if he doesn’t receive a class promptly and is slated to teach two classes in fall 2024.
Expressing his enthusiasm for resuming teaching, Varkey remarked, “I love science and I love to teach.” He expressed gratitude to those who supported his reinstatement. First Liberty attorney Kayla Toney hailed the voluntary reinstatement by the Alamo Community College District, affirming Varkey’s eagerness to continue educating students.
Varkey, an adjunct professor, had taught Human Anatomy and Physiology to over 1,500 students since 2004, with consistently positive performance reviews and no history of disciplinary issues. Despite his two-decade tenure, his termination stemmed from a controversial incident in November 2022 when four students left his class after he stated the chromosomal basis of sex, in line with his academic and religious beliefs. Varkey, a devout Christian, clarified that while his religious beliefs influenced his personal views on sexuality, he refrained from discussing them in class, and thus, the allegation of religious preaching was unfounded.
