A University of Louisville medical professor sued U of L President Neeli Bendapudi and other school officials this week, claiming he was demoted and will be effectively fired over comments he made about how to treat transgender children during an off-campus panel.

In a new federal lawsuit, Dr. Allan Josephson, a university employee, claims he was retaliated against for exercising his First Amendment rights.

Attorneys for the Alliance Defending Freedom, a nonprofit organization that is considered an anti-LGBT hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, filed the lawsuit Thursday on Josephson's behalf, according to an ADF news release.

Josephson was chief of the U of L medical school's Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology for nearly 15 years but was demoted soon after speaking in late 2017 at an event for the Heritage Foundation, a conservative, nonprofit public policy think tank, according to his lawsuit.

During that event, he discussed his professional opinions on the treatment of children who experience gender dysphoria — views similar to those he had expressed as an expert witness in various legal cases.

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Specifically, Josephson's lawsuit says the professor generally made the following comments, among others, during his Heritage Foundation appearance:

He noted that the "notion that gender identity should trump chromosomes, hormones, internal reproductive organs, external genitalia, and secondary sex characteristics when classifying individuals is counter to medical science."

He noted that "transgender ideology neglects the child's need for developing coping and problem-solving skills necessary to meet developmental challenges."

He indicated parents should empathetically listen to their kids and then "use their collective wisdom in guiding their child to align with his or her biological sex."

Several university faculty and staff members objected to his views and demanded that U of L take disciplinary action, according to Josephson's lawsuit.

"Acceding to this pressure," he claims university officials quickly demoted him to the level of a junior faculty member and says he was belittled and berated in the ensuing months, in addition to having his salary and retirement benefits reduced.

Then, in February, Josephson learned that the university would not renew his contract, effectively firing him, according to his lawsuit.

"They took all these retaliatory actions with an eye to ensuring that neither he nor anyone else dares to express viewpoints they find objectionable on medical and psychiatric issues," the lawsuit states.

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Josephson is a professor in the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology within U of L's Department of Pediatrics, in addition to practicing medicine at U of L Physicians' Bingham Clinic, which offers mental health-related services to children and adolescents, according to university spokesman John Karman.

"Beyond that, the university typically does not comment on pending litigation, and I'm not able to comment on personnel matters that are part of active litigation," Karman said.

Chris Hartman, executive director of the Fairness Campaign, a Louisville-based LGBTQ advocacy organization, was critical of the Alliance Defending Freedom group, as well as Josephson's views on transgender issues.

"Dr. Josephson's perspective on this issue is outdated at best and discriminatory and prejudiced at worst," he said. "The vast majority of folks who work with transgender adults and youth concur that supporting someone's decision to transition as early as they are sure about their desire to do it is what can save their lives."

He said delaying someone's transition or denying their gender identity leads to increased rates of depression, drug use and other problems among transgender people.

Travis Barham, senior counsel with the ADF, described his nonprofit as defending free speech, religious freedom and "the definition of family," and he said the Southern Poverty Law Center is a "morally bankrupt organization" that recently ousted top leaders over concerns about sexual harassment and racial discrimination.

Previously:U of L criticizes professor's homophobic email to Louisville Ballet

Josephson's lawsuit claims he was required to "surrender his constitutionally protected rights to freedom of speech, due process, and equal protection to avoid disciplinary actions up to and including demotion and termination."

The professor is asking for a ruling requiring university officials to renew his contract, restore him to his former role as a division chief and purge his personnel file of any references to his demotion and his contract's nonrenewal.

He also seeks a financial award for requesting punitive damages and attorneys' fees, among other things.

"Professors should not fear for their career when they accept speaking opportunities," Josephson said in a statement ADF provided. "Speaking with conservative groups — or holding conservative views — should not be disqualifying for academic service. But that's what happened to me."

Morgan Watkins: 502-582-4502; mwatkins@courierjournal.com; Twitter: @morganwatkins26. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/morganw.