Christian Professor Files Lawsuit Against University of Arizona
A Christian professor is taking legal action against the University of Arizona, claiming he was dismissed due to his public remarks on gender policy.
Daniel Grossenbach, who worked as an adjunct ethics lecturer from 2020 to 2023, asserts that the university was pressured to dismiss him in November 2023 after receiving an anonymous complaint related to custody issues in his child’s school district.
The lawsuit states that Grossenbach, who has two children in the Catalina Foothills School District (CFSD), created a group called SaveCFSD in 2023. The aim of this group is to challenge policies that, according to him, conceal crucial mental health information about minors and constitute a significant violation of custody rights.
This group alleges that CFSD has been informing students about gender identity matters, encouraging them to use preferred names and pronouns without parental notification.
The lawsuit claims that Grossenbach was let go following an anonymous complaint that accused him of heading “anti-gay hatred groups,” sharing anti-LGBTQ posts on social media, and spreading misinformation about CFSD’s policies. These accusations purportedly violated the university’s non-discrimination and conduct guidelines.
University officials told Grossenbach that his position was being cut to make room for a new full-time role. However, the lawsuit indicates that shortly after his termination, the university listed other openings for adjunct professors in the ethics department.
In response to the university’s explanation, Grossenbach submitted a public records request. He claims the university took 239 days to respond, only releasing heavily redacted documents. These documents revealed that administrators had discussed the complaints before putting his course on hold.
“I faced a lot of criticism and harassment, especially outside the university, after publicly discussing these contentious issues,” Grossenbach said. He expressed disappointment at not being informed about the complaints beforehand.
The lawsuit cites violations of the First and Fourteenth Amendments, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, and Arizona’s Public Records Act. Grossenbach is seeking reinstatement, financial compensation for damages, and enforcement of university policies.
His attorney, Daniel Schmidt, emphasized that this is about safeguarding constitutional rights. “You can’t terminate a professor simply for holding a religious view expressed outside of the classroom,” he stated. “That’s a clear violation of the First Amendment.”
A spokesperson for the University of Arizona declined to comment on the ongoing legal matter.
This legal dispute unfolds against a backdrop of conflicts involving the Trump administration and various school districts regarding transgender policies. The U.S. Department of Education has threatened to withdraw funding from several districts, claiming violations of Title IX related to aligning bathroom and locker room policies with a student’s gender identity over biological sex.
