The professor was branded 'transphobic' over the comment
A group of students at a university in the US are calling for their professor to be fired after she told the class only two sexes exist.
Christy Hammer, a professor of education, at University of Southern Maine in Portland, Maine, allegedly made the statement during a heated debate about gender identity in her 'Creating a Positive Learning Environment' class, causing outrage among graduate students. All but one, disagreed with her opinion.
Others attending the the class say most students agreed that a spectrum exists for both gender and biological sex,
MailOnline reported.
Hammer made the point during a class on September 7, but it was said to have been repeated a week later after student Elizabeth Leibiger, who is non-binary and was absent the previous week, raised it.
Leibiger said she then felt "under personal attack".
"I asked [Hammer] how many sexes there were," Leibiger said.
"She said, 'Two.' I felt under personal attack."
While men have XY chromosomes and women XX chromosomes it is accepted, by many, that gender can have a broader spectrum than sex. However, the issue is divisive.
Twenty one of the 22 students are said to have walked out of Hammer's class and a meeting was demanded with the university's School of Education and Human Development.
"I let her know I didn't think she was qualified to teach a class about positive learning environments. It's the ultimate irony," Leibiger told
Fox News.
The meeting was held, but Hammer's position remained unchanged.
Two dozen graduate students in the class continued to demand that the university replace her, suggesting her comment was evidence she was transphobic, and still refuse to return to the classroom in which she teaches.
The class is a requirement to complete the graduate-level Extended Teacher Education Program and become a certified teacher in Maine.
Interim Provost Adam Tuchinsky told the
Bangor Daily News: "We are aware of this situation and are taking steps to provide students with the support needed."
Another student suggested Hammer either undergo diversity training or simply retire.
The university has since suggested that an "alternative" section for the class will be created, but that the professor will not be removed.
University officials have not revealed how many students will be moving to the new class.
There appear to be plenty of people happy to support Hammer's position with almost 2,000 people signing a petition for her to keep her job.
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