Young America's Foundation v. University of Minnesota

Young America’s Foundation v. University of Minnesota

YAF Challenges Speech Codes that Silence Students Who Believe in Biological Sex

About the Case

On behalf of Young America’s Foundation (YAF), Southeastern Legal Foundation (SLF) is suing the University of Minnesota over gender policies that stifle debate and force students to conform to woke orthodoxy. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 was passed by Congress to protect biological males and females from discrimination on the basis of sex in schools. But with urging from the Obama and Biden Administrations, colleges across the country have abandoned their duty to protect students on the basis of biological sex—let alone their right to express their views on biological sex—and instead force students to conform to radical gender ideology.

Representing YAF students at UMN, SLF is challenging several University-wide student life polices that forbid students and guests from speaking on one side of the debate about gender identity and transgender issues, and also forbid them from using biological pronouns to refer to transgender-identifying people. This is a blatant violation of students’ freedom of speech. These speech restrictions arise from how the University defines what it calls “hostile environment sexual harassment” and from a policy that requires preferred pronoun usage. These speech codes are enforced through several policies, including the University’s Student Code of Conduct.

Case Status

Active

Court

District of Minnesota

Why This Matters

College should be a time for students to explore new ideas and engage in open discussion. But too many colleges nowadays force students to conform to radical gender ideology and silence anyone who dares to disagree. This is not what college should be about, and it is definitely not what the First Amendment is about.

Every American has the right to hold their own beliefs and speak out to defend those beliefs. Forcing anyone, especially students, to agree that a person can switch genders, that there are infinite genders, or that they should just accept it when someone of the opposite sex appears in their bathroom or on their sports team is wrong and cannot stand under the First Amendment.

Because of the University of Minnesota’s policies, students are chilled from expressing their opinions on gender identity and transgender issues both on and off campus. They fear speaking broadly supported ideas like “men should not compete in women’s sports or use their bathrooms,” or there are only two genders,” or “sex is immutable,” or a man cannot get pregnant,” or “a man cannot become a woman, and a woman cannot become a man.”

No student should live in fear that their future will be destroyed for merely expressing their opinion or refusing to use incorrect pronouns. The University here has silenced debate. And enough is enough.

SLF will continue to defend students of all ages against unconstitutional policies at schools that try to censor, compel, and radicalize speech.

In the News

Why This Matters

College should be a time for students to explore new ideas and engage in open discussion. But too many colleges nowadays force students to conform to radical gender ideology and silence anyone who dares to disagree. This is not what college should be about, and it is definitely not what the First Amendment is about.

Every American has the right to hold their own beliefs and speak out to defend those beliefs. Forcing anyone, especially students, to agree that a person can switch genders, that there are infinite genders, or that they should just accept it when someone of the opposite sex appears in their bathroom or on their sports team is wrong and cannot stand under the First Amendment.

Because of the University of Minnesota’s policies, students are chilled from expressing their opinions on gender identity and transgender issues both on and off campus. They fear speaking broadly supported ideas like “men should not compete in women’s sports or use their bathrooms,” or there are only two genders,” or “sex is immutable,” or a man cannot get pregnant,” or “a man cannot become a woman, and a woman cannot become a man.”

No student should live in fear that their future will be destroyed for merely expressing their opinion or refusing to use incorrect pronouns. The University here has silenced debate. And enough is enough.

SLF will continue to defend students of all ages against unconstitutional policies at schools that try to censor, compel, and radicalize speech.

In the News

Case Documents

Complaint (June 18, 2026)

News Releases

Groups Launch Lawsuit Against University of Minnesota for restricting student speech on gender identity & transgender issues, while enforcing pronouns

SLF represents YAF in new lawsuit against University of Minnesota challenging policies that silence students who believe in biological sex and compels them to use so-called “preferred pronouns”

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