TX Chaplain Sues Department, Claims Freedom of Speech Violation

A minister who claims his rights to free speech were violated is suing the Austin Fire Department.

Andrew Fox claims he was fired from his volunteer position because of his views on men competing on women's sports teams, KXAN reported.

Fox, who helped start AFD's chaplaincy program, says the city and Chief Joel G. Baker "violated his First Amendment right to free speech and free exercise of religion, and violated the Texas Constitution.” The suit was filed last week in the Austin Division of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas.

In the 2021 blog post that led to the dismissal, Fox said “men and women are created biologically distinct and … men should not compete on women’s sports teams," the station reported.

Fox claims he sent a letter of apology to the department and the LGBT community as requested. But it was denied.

The suit, according to the station, claims the department “wanted Dr. Fox to include an explicit apology for expressing his views and the harm allegedly caused by doing so.”

However, Fox decided he would not recant his beliefs.

In addition to being reinstated, the chaplain is asking for the chief and the city to admit his freedom of speech rights were violated.

The AFD released the following statement to the station: “The Austin Fire Department appreciates Dr. Fox’s service as a volunteer chaplain. However, we do not expound on matters involving personnel and/or those affiliated with our department in an official capacity.”