Dr. Johnson Varkey, an Indian American biology professor in Texas, is getting his job back one year after he was fired for teaching basic concepts of human biology and reproduction to his students.

He was fired by St. Philip’s College in San Antonio for teaching that sex is determined by X and Y chromosomes, consistent with his study of human biology, according to First Liberty Institute, which fought his legal case.

The college website describes it as “a historically Black college and Hispanic serving institution.”

READ: Justice Department settles immigration-related discrimination claim against TEG Staffing Inc. (August 17, 2016)

First Liberty Institute filed a charge of discrimination at the EEOC against St. Philip’s and the Alamo Community College District earlier this year. Several Members of Congress also weighed in and called for Varkey’s reinstatement.

As part of the settlement, the college guaranteed that Varkey will be back to teaching in spring 2024. He will also receive an undisclosed monetary amount if he doesn’t receive a class in time, and he will teach two classes in the fall of 2024.

“I love science and I love to teach,” Varkey said. “I am excited about returning to the classroom and am grateful to all those who helped me get my teaching job back.”

“We are happy that the Alamo Community College District voluntarily reinstated Dr. Varkey,” First Liberty attorney Kayla Toney said. “He is excited by this outcome, and we are glad that the District did the right thing. Dr. Varkey looks forward to continuing to educate students.”

As an adjunct professor, Varkey taught Human Anatomy and Physiology to more than 1,500 students since 2004. He consistently received exemplary performance reviews and was never subject to discipline in his two-decade career, according to First Liberty.

He never discussed with any student his personal views—religious or otherwise—on human gender or sexuality, it said.

In November 2022, four students walked out of Varkey’s class when he stated, consistent with his study of human biology and religious beliefs, that sex was determined by chromosomes X and Y. In two decades of teaching these basic, unremarkable concepts, no other students complained.

The college fired him in January 2023. It sent Varkey a termination letter saying the school “received numerous complaints” about his “offensive” and “unacceptable religious preaching” in the classroom.

A devout Christian, Varkey serves with his wife as a volunteer associate pastor at International Bible Church in San Antonio. He also hosts a Bible-teaching radio ministry called Rehoboth Voice.

As a Christian, he believes that “God has ordained the sexual function for procreation, that children are a gift from God, and that, absent a compelling reason, one should not sterilize oneself,” Varkey wrote in the EEOC complaint.

“Although these are my religious beliefs, I never mentioned them in class. I did not preach any of my beliefs in class,” he added. “Thus, the allegation that I conducted ‘religious preaching’ is unsubstantiated.”

Dr. Johnson Varkey, an Indian American biology professor in Texas, is getting his job back one year after he was fired for teaching basic concepts of human biology and reproduction to his students.

He was fired by St. Philip’s College in San Antonio for teaching that sex is determined by X and Y chromosomes, consistent with his study of human biology, according to First Liberty Institute, which fought his legal case.

The college website describes it as “a historically Black college and Hispanic serving institution.”

READ: Justice Department settles immigration-related discrimination claim against TEG Staffing Inc. (August 17, 2016)

First Liberty Institute filed a charge of discrimination at the EEOC against St. Philip’s and the Alamo Community College District earlier this year. Several Members of Congress also weighed in and called for Varkey’s reinstatement.

As part of the settlement, the college guaranteed that Varkey will be back to teaching in spring 2024. He will also receive an undisclosed monetary amount if he doesn’t receive a class in time, and he will teach two classes in the fall of 2024.

“I love science and I love to teach,” Varkey said. “I am excited about returning to the classroom and am grateful to all those who helped me get my teaching job back.”

“We are happy that the Alamo Community College District voluntarily reinstated Dr. Varkey,” First Liberty attorney Kayla Toney said. “He is excited by this outcome, and we are glad that the District did the right thing. Dr. Varkey looks forward to continuing to educate students.”

As an adjunct professor, Varkey taught Human Anatomy and Physiology to more than 1,500 students since 2004. He consistently received exemplary performance reviews and was never subject to discipline in his two-decade career, according to First Liberty.

He never discussed with any student his personal views—religious or otherwise—on human gender or sexuality, it said.

In November 2022, four students walked out of Varkey’s class when he stated, consistent with his study of human biology and religious beliefs, that sex was determined by chromosomes X and Y. In two decades of teaching these basic, unremarkable concepts, no other students complained.

The college fired him in January 2023. It sent Varkey a termination letter saying the school “received numerous complaints” about his “offensive” and “unacceptable religious preaching” in the classroom.

A devout Christian, Varkey serves with his wife as a volunteer associate pastor at International Bible Church in San Antonio. He also hosts a Bible-teaching radio ministry called Rehoboth Voice.

As a Christian, he believes that “God has ordained the sexual function for procreation, that children are a gift from God, and that, absent a compelling reason, one should not sterilize oneself,” Varkey wrote in the EEOC complaint.

“Although these are my religious beliefs, I never mentioned them in class. I did not preach any of my beliefs in class,” he added. “Thus, the allegation that I conducted ‘religious preaching’ is unsubstantiated.”