After being chastised by university officials for addressing a male student who identifies as female as “sir,” an Ohio professor is suing the officials, stating that his evangelical Christian beliefs dictated his actions and that the university was violating his constitutional rights.
The lawsuit filed by Nicholas Meriwether, who teaches philosophy and religion at Shawnee State University in Portsmouth, Ohio, states, “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.” The lawsuit also notes that Meriwether addresses students as “sir” or “Miss” to show respect.
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