Wrongful Termination: College to Pay $100,000 to Settle Case over Homosexuality Remarks

July 22, 2010

San Jose - The San Jose City College district has agreed to pay $100,000 to settle a case filed by a former adjunct biology professor who claimed that she was terminated due to her remarks about homosexuality.

According to reports, June Sheldon alleged in a 2008 case that the school violated her free speech rights when she was terminated.

Sheldon claimed that she was fired after she told her students about the work of a German scientist who said that male homosexuality can result from stress during a woman’s pregnancy.

In addition, Sheldon stated that she only made the homosexuality remarks as part of her answer to a student’s question about the connection between heredity and homosexuality. A student complained after she made the remarks.

Reports said the district also agreed to remove the termination from the former professor’s record. However, it did not admit any violation on its part.