Former ethics professor Daniel Grossbach claims he was fired from his part-time teaching position after speaking in a personal capacity at several local school board meetings in favor of parental rights and against the district’s embrace of radical gender policies.
A former University of Arizona professor is suing the school, alleging he was unlawfully fired for speaking out at local school board meetings about parental rights and gender policies.
Liberty Counsel filed the lawsuit on Aug. 21 on behalf of Daniel Grossenbach, who taught ethics part-time at the university until last year. The case claims the university discriminated and retaliated against him for exercising his First Amendment rights to free speech and religious expression.
Grossenbach, a Christian father of school-aged children, had spoken repeatedly in 2023 at board meetings of the Catalina Foothills School District (CFSD), which is separate from the university. The district was facing intense criticism from parents over policies that encouraged teachers to survey students on gender and sexuality while keeping the information from parents. According to the lawsuit, one middle school principal circulated an email listing students who identified as “gender confused” and instructed teachers to use alternate pronouns in class without notifying families.
Grossenbach described those measures as a “gross intrusion” on parental rights. Motivated by his faith, he founded SaveCFSD, a nonprofit aimed at educating parents about their rights and alerting them to school board decisions. He delivered short speeches at public meetings, emphasizing that he spoke only for himself and not the university, and explained his religious belief that “departing from God’s natural male and female design of human sexuality is a sin.”
Liberty Counsel says that after those appearances, anonymous critics targeted Grossenbach online and urged the university to take action. The lawsuit describes a coordinated campaign of complaints pressuring the school to end his contract.
In November 2023, university officials informed Grossenbach that his contract would not be renewed for the spring semester, claiming that he was being replaced by a full-time faculty member. But Liberty Counsel says no such hire was made, the ethics courses were dropped, and the university later advertised for adjunct professors with the same qualifications as Grossenbach.
Despite Grossenbach’s positive teaching evaluations, the university cut ties after learning about his activism, the lawsuit contends. Liberty Counsel also says the school withheld records related to his dismissal for more than seven months, violating Arizona law.
“[The University of Arizona’s] actions have inflicted irreparable damage to Professor Grossenbach’s professional career and reputation, ended his academic pursuit of a doctorate degree, decreased his earning potential, and reduced his income,” the lawsuit states. “Further, when Professor Grossenbach was terminated, he lost a potential textbook publishing deal, furthering his financial loss and reputational damage.”
Liberty Counsel is asking the court to declare the university’s actions unconstitutional and unlawful under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits workplace discrimination based on religion. The complaint seeks to reinstate Grossenbach, restore his benefits, and award damages.
In a news release, Mat Staver, founder and chairman for Liberty Counsel, said that public universities cannot punish employees for protected speech.
“Professors at public universities and colleges do not shed their constitutional rights to free speech and religious exercise when they work for a university. Professor Daniel Grossenbach engaged in constitutionally protected speech, religious expression, and religious exercise and was speaking on matters of public concern regarding his faith, morality, and the community. The University of Arizona cannot fire a professor for his protected speech. Viewpoint discrimination is unlawful and violates the First Amendment and religious discrimination violates Title VII.”
The lawsuit further argues that Grossenbach’s activism was peaceful and conducted outside his professional duties. At meetings, he reminded school board members that parents hold the fundamental right to direct their children’s upbringing. Supporters say he modeled civil discourse by delivering his remarks respectfully, without slander or hostility.
The lawsuit also portrays his case as emblematic of what it calls growing hostility toward religious voices in academia.
Grossenbach is not the first professor to face discriminatory actions due to his or her conservative or religious views, but those cases have increased dramatically in recent years as more and more school have split with traditional American views on parental rights, school transparency, gender policies, and other issues.
The lawsuit asks the court not only to reinstate Grossenbach but also to issue a permanent injunction preventing the university from discriminating against other faculty members based on their religious beliefs.
If successful, the case could mark a significant precedent for academic freedom and religious liberty in higher education. For now, Grossenbach continues to lead SaveCFSD, pressing his message that parents must remain informed and involved in decisions that shape their children’s education.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act protects employees from being fired solely because of race, color, sex, or religion. And it applies to everyone, not just minorities. If Grossenbach was let go because of his Christian beliefs or his speech supporting God’s design for parental authority in the home or other biblically based principles, rather than his performance as a professor, then the University of Arizona has committed discrimination against him and should pay for it.
For Christians, Grossenbach’s case offers both a warning and an inspiring reminder of the call to stand firm in faith. Scripture makes clear that living out the Gospel will sometimes bring opposition. Jesus told His followers, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first” (John 15:18). The harassment and threats Grossenbach has faced for defending parental rights and speaking biblical truth about human sexuality reflects that reality in today’s culture.
His example also highlights the vital role believers play in public life. Parental rights are both a constitutional issue and a biblical one. Deuteronomy 6 instructs parents to teach God’s commands diligently to their children. When schools attempt to undermine that responsibility, Christian parents are right to speak up, even if it costs them personally. Grossenbach’s willingness to risk his career shows a conviction rooted not in fear of people but in obedience to God.
This case challenges the Church to remain vigilant and supportive. Believers are called to “bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2), which includes standing alongside those who face hostility for their faith. Whether through prayer, advocacy, or encouraging words, Christians should rally around those who are targeted for living out biblical convictions.
This story also invites Christians to remember that God uses trials to refine His people and advance His purposes. Joseph was unjustly imprisoned, Daniel was thrown into the lions’ den, and Paul was repeatedly arrested, yet in each case God turned opposition into opportunities for His glory. The same is true today. Though Grossenbach’s firing brought pain and loss, his case now shines a light on religious liberty and may strengthen protections for others.
As Proverbs 28:1 reminds us, “The righteous are as bold as a lion.” Christians in every area must be willing to live out their faith without compromise, trusting that God will honor their obedience and use it for His kingdom.
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