Last week, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that philosophy professor Nicholas Meriwether may sue Shawnee State University for violating his First Amendment Rights. Here’s the story:

When a biological male student who identifies as transgender requested that Meriwether address him as female, Meriwether refused. His Christian faith, said the professor, prevents him “from referring to gender in a way that is false.” Instead, Meriweather offered to use the student’s last name. The student complained, and the school reprimanded Meriwether, threatening him with dismissal.

Meriwether sued. Initially the case was dismissed, but on appeal the Sixth Circuit ruled that the claim Shawnee State violated Meriweather’s First Amendment rights “by compelling his speech or silence” was plausible.

Now Meriweather, represented by the Alliance Defending Freedom, will have the chance to make his case in court.

Soviet dissident Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn wrote that, at the very least, we must not participate in lies. For now, one professor will not have to.