Trans Teacher Put on Leave After Student Wrote Religious Paper

At the University of Oklahoma, a psychology class assignment asked students to analyze how societal expectations shape gender norms. A student, Samantha Fulnecky, responded with an essay citing religious beliefs — arguing that gender is “Biblically ordained” and rejecting gender diversity. Her paper described transgender identities as “demonic.”

What Happened and What Did the Trans Teacher Do?

Because the essay relied on personal ideology and religious doctrine rather than empirical evidence — and because it allegedly failed to address the assignment’s prompts properly — the grading instructor, Mel Curth, a transgender graduate-student TA, gave the student a zero. A second instructor backed the decision.

However, after the student filed a religious-discrimination complaint — claiming her constitutional right to religious expression was violated — OU placed the instructor on administrative leave while launching a full review. A full-time professor has taken over the class for the remainder of the semester.

Why It Blew Up — Religion, Free Speech, Trans Rights & Campus Tensions

The incident quickly escalated beyond a simple grading dispute. For some, the instructor’s decision was a legitimate academic judgment — the essay failed to meet requirements for scientific writing, evidence-based analysis, and respectful framing.

For others — including the student and supporters — it became a flashpoint over religious freedom, free speech, and perceived bias. Critics argue that the student was punished not for poor writing, but for expressing religious convictions.

The fact that the grading instructor is transgender added another volatile dimension. Some have framed the matter as part of a broader national debate over “wokeness,” academic freedom, and the role of personal identity in education. Conservative groups and politicians, including the governor of Oklahoma, weighed in — pushing for investigation and defending students’ religious rights.

University Response & Immediate Fallout

The University issued a public statement saying it takes “First Amendment rights, including religious freedoms” seriously, and has activated a formal grade-appeals and review process.

In the meantime:

• The contested grade will not affect the student’s final mark.
• The instructor remains on paid administrative leave while the investigation proceeds.
• The class has been reassigned to a full-time professor.

The university assured both student and staff that fairness and respect are priorities, even as public scrutiny intensifies.

Why This Story Resonates Beyond One Essay

Moreover, this case touches on several powerful themes in contemporary campus and cultural politics:

• Academic standards vs. religious belief — Should religiously-rooted arguments be treated as valid academic work in science or social-science courses?
• Free speech and discrimination — When does criticism of a player’s views cross into bias or unfair grading?
• Trans identity, identity politics and teaching — The instructor’s identity brought the national debate over trans rights and representation into the center of a classroom controversy.
• Political and cultural pressure on universities — With involvement from outside groups and political figures, the dispute reflects broader national tensions over religion, gender, and educational curriculum.

Because of all that, this is less about one bad essay — and more about what American higher education and free expression look like in a polarized cultural moment.

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