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Josephson v. Ganzel

Description:  University of Louisville officials demoted, harassed, and effectively fired a distinguished professor who successfully led the university’s child psychiatry program after he expressed his views on treatment approaches for youth experiencing gender dysphoria. Dr. Allan M. Josephson’s remarks in a panel discussion angered a few of his colleagues, who then learned he had served as an expert witness addressing similar issues. They then demanded that the university take disciplinary action, and university officials responded by demoting him weeks later to the role of a junior faculty member. The university later announced that it would not renew his contract, a highly unusual decision that meant he was effectively fired.


Dr. Allan Josephson, former University of Louisville professor
Monday, Jul 22, 2024

WHO:  Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys

WHAT:  Available for media interviews following oral arguments in Josephson v. Ganzel

WHEN:  Immediately following hearing, which begins at 9 a.m. EDT, Tuesday, July 23

WHERE:  U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit, Potter Stewart U.S. Courthouse, 100 E. Fifth St., Cincinnati; or view the livestream. To schedule an interview, contact ADF Deputy Director of Media Relations AnnMarie Pariseau at (480) 417-3975.

CINCINNATI – Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys representing a professor whom University of Louisville officials demoted, harassed, and then fired because of his views will be available for media interviews Tuesday following oral arguments at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit. ADF attorneys filed a brief in April asking the court to rule that Dr. Allan Josephson’s case, Josephson v. Ganzel, against these officials should proceed to trial.

Josephson is a distinguished child psychiatrist who turned around the University of Louisville’s then-struggling Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology in 2003. After Josephson spoke in his personal capacity in a panel discussion about his views on children experiencing gender dysphoria, university officials punished and then fired him in 2019. After he sued the school, a federal district court ruled in March 2023 that a jury should hear his claims that university officials retaliated against him for his constitutionally protected speech. University officials are arguing that they are immune from having to stand trial.

“Universities should welcome differing viewpoints and encourage civil discourse in their academic communities—and that includes professors,” said ADF Senior Counsel Travis Barham, who will be arguing before the court. “Dr. Josephson has had a long and distinguished career at the University of Louisville, leading and rebuilding its child psychiatry program. He spoke about treatments for children struggling with their sex in his own personal time, and yet the University punished him for expressing his opinion. Public universities are not immune from legal action when it comes to the First Amendment, and we are urging the court to uphold Dr. Josephson’s clearly established right to free speech.”

In the fall of 2017, Josephson participated in a panel discussion at The Heritage Foundation on treatment approaches for youth experiencing gender dysphoria. He also served as an expert witness addressing similar issues. A few of his colleagues disagreed with his views and demanded that the university take disciplinary action. University officials responded by demoting him weeks later to the role of a junior faculty member.

For the next year, Josephson was ostracized, stripped of teaching duties, and subjected to other forms of hostility. In February 2019, the university announced that it would not renew his contract in June, a highly unusual decision that terminated his employment at the university and ended his 40-year career.

  • Pronunciation guide: Barham (BEAR’-um)

The ADF Center for Academic Freedom is dedicated to protecting First Amendment and related freedoms for students and faculty so that everyone can freely participate in the marketplace of ideas without fear of government censorship.

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ABOUT Travis C. Barham

Travis C. Barham serves as senior counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom, where he plays a key role with the ADF Center for Academic Freedom. He focuses his legal efforts on preserving and reclaiming religious freedom, freedom of speech, and freedom of association for students and faculty at universities throughout the country. His work has been instrumental in securing several strategic appellate court victories, including a public university free speech victory at the U.S. Supreme Court in 2021. Barham earned his Juris Doctor from Washington and Lee University School of Law in 2006, where he graduated summa cum laude. Barham is a member of the bars of Georgia and Arizona. He is also admitted to practice before multiple federal district and appellate courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court.

ABOUT Tyson Langhofer

Tyson Langhofer serves as senior counsel with Alliance Defending Freedom and director of its Center for Academic Freedom. Before joining ADF, Langhofer was a partner with Stinson Leonard Street LLP, where he worked as a commercial litigation attorney for 15 years and earned Martindale-Hubbell’s AV Preeminent® rating. Langhofer earned his Juris Doctor from Regent University School of Law, where he graduated cum laude in 1999. He obtained a B.A. in international business with a minor in economics from Wichita State University in 1996. A member of the bar in Virginia, Kansas, and Arizona, Langhofer is also admitted to practice in numerous federal district courts.