This year, a major legal victory unfolded at the University of Louisville. The school has agreed to pay nearly $1.6 million to Dr. Allan Josephson—former head of the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology. For almost fifteen years, Dr. Josephson built a nationally recognized program—until he spoke out in 2017 at a Heritage Foundation event about approaches to treating gender dysphoria in minors. At the Heritage panel, Dr. Josephson expressed concern that children were being rushed into puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones without adequate attention to underlying psychological issues. He emphasized the importance of understanding and addressing those root causes before considering medical interventions.
But his words came with real costs. University officials reportedly began sidelining him soon after. He was demoted, excluded from leadership, and—as of 2019—his contract was terminated despite stellar performance reviews. Colleagues even stopped speaking with him! Unfortunately, this case isn’t unique. Across academia and culture, dissent on radical gender ideology faces serious consequences. In the U.K., Dr. David Bell was dismissed from Tavistock Clinic after criticizing care for gender-dysphoric youth. Books like Abigail Shrier’s Irreversible Damage and Ryan T. Anderson’s When Harry Became Sally were banned by major platforms. Even satirical voices, like The Babylon Bee, were shut down on social channels for daring to question the left’s gender ideology.
Thankfully, voices like Dr. Josephson’s endured. The Alliance Defending Freedom backed his lawsuit, and this settlement is seen as a significant win for academic freedom—and, more importantly, for children. It’s part of a growing pushback. The UK’s Tavistock Clinic has closed, the UK’s high court reaffirmed legal definitions of male and female, and The Babylon Bee is back on Twitter, or X. Dr. Josephson’s story and legal victory reminds us that TRUTH MATTERS. When ideology starts to override science, someone has to speak up. Change is possible when it comes to evidence-based care and the welfare of our kids. I hope and pray that this victory encourages others to stand up and boldly speak the truth.
This post originally appeared at https://phyllisschlafly.com/constitution/free-speech/big-win-for-trans-truth-speaking-professor/
Phyllis Schlafly