Free Speech Defended

For John, BLUF:  This is Meriwether v. The Trustees of Shawnee State University, a First Amendment issue.  "Shawnee State University officials punished philosophy professor Nicholas Meriwether because he declined a male student’s demand to be referred to as a woman, with feminine titles and pronouns (“Miss,” “she,” etc.).".  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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6th Circuit upholds First Amendment rights of Shawnee State professor

Here is the sub-headline:

ADF attorneys represent philosophy professor punished for declining to speak message contrary to his beliefs

From Alliance Defending Freedom, Attorney John Bursch, 26 March 2021.

Here is the lede plus one:

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit ruled Friday in favor of Dr. Nicholas Meriwether, a philosophy professor at Shawnee State University, reversing a district court’s dismissal of his lawsuit against university officials.  The university punished Meriwether because he declined a male student’s demand to be referred to as a woman, with feminine titles and pronouns.  The court ruled that, based on the allegations in the complaint, the university violated Meriwether’s First Amendment rights.

“This case forced us to defend what used to be a common belief—that nobody should be forced to contradict their core beliefs just to keep their job,” said ADF Senior Counsel and Vice President of Appellate Advocacy John Bursch.  “We are very pleased that the 6th Circuit affirmed the constitutional right of public university professors to speak and lead discussions, even on hotly contested issues.  The freedoms of speech and religion must be vigorously protected if universities are to remain places where ideas can be debated and learning can take place.”

I was beginning to wonder if anyone was going to speak up for free speech in this woke age.

One thing I worry about is too rigid a set of rules.  I take my clues from what I see around me.  If a person appears male, but is transitioning, I don't wish to stand in jeoprady for a misjudgement.  Or stating what I think is obvious to me.  On the other hand, I don't wish to offend anyone.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff