To secularists, it should be illegal to hold an opinion opposite of theirs. Academics that championed free speech 30 years ago are now trying to stifle dissenting views on campus.

Since 2005, Professor Eric Thompson taught sociology at Moreno Valley College. Twice, he won the “faculty of the year” award as voted by students.

He challenged his students to defend their positions on various topics, including gender issues, marriage and sexual orientation. Part of those discussions included him telling them that homosexual feelings could be a result of environment rather than biology. In other words, he challenged the idea that a person was born a homosexual and could nothing to prevent it.

Students complained and he was investigated three times. Officials found no violations of school policy.

But that wasn’t good enough. The report labeled his actions “unprofessional” and put him on paid leave in 2016. In 2017, they fired him for conducting “dangerous” and “immoral” discussions.

Pacific Justice Institute (PJI) attorney Michael Peffer represented Thompson in an arbitration process in 2018, which resulted in the reversal of Thompson’s termination. The school sued and on July 9, a district judge upheld his reinstatement. He ruled that free speech can be “difficult” and should not be prohibited.

It is amazing that this school wants to stop any discussions of the traditional family by making it illegal.

Brad Dacus, Founder and President of PJI, called college campuses a “battleground” in the fight to protect First Amendment rights of both teachers and students.

The secular humanists lost this round but they won’t give up.