(June 24, 2026): Southeastern Legal Foundation (SLF) President Kim Hermann and Young America’s Foundation (YAF) member Jackson Barrick appear on The Center Square after filing a lawsuit against the University of Minnesota over its woke gender policies that stifle free speech.

According to the lawsuit, university policies violate the First Amendment because they require students to use incorrect biological pronouns (“preferred pronouns”) and penalize speech about gender identity and transgender issues as “hostile environment sexual harassment”. These broadly written policies mean that students can be punished, including facing disciplinary action, “for expressing belief that there are only two genders, objecting to transgender individuals in sex-segregated spaces like bathrooms, or refusing to use preferred pronouns.”

Mr. Barrick states, “It’s been really challenging…to make sure I’m not put under academic suspension or further repercussions.” He explains how he and many of his classmates hesitate to share their views if they don’t conform to classroom or societal expectations.

“This affects 70,000 students across five campuses in pretty much every corner of the state,” he says. “It’s about encouraging that healthy environment and the ability to conduct reasonable debate or reasonable conversation without fear of the university going against you.”

Hermann adds, “These students are paying a tremendous amount of money to go to these universities across our country to get an education. Not to be silenced, not to be shamed for their beliefs in basic common sense…[universities] need to stop, and until they do, we will keep filing lawsuits just like this throughout the entire country.”

Watch the full video at TheCenterSquare.com.