YAF Sues University of Minnesota Over Forced ‘Transgender’ Speech Codes

by Jeff Johnston | June 26, 2026 | Education Free Speech

Young America’s Foundation (YAF) filed a lawsuit against the University of Minnesota (UMN) over policies that keep students from questioning “transgender” ideology and force them to use transgender-identified individual’s “chosen pronouns” – rather than language that reflects biological reality.

YAF is the parent organization of Young Americans for Freedom, which has chapters on 213 college and university campuses, as well as 228 high school groups. The conservative non-profit has a mission to ensure “that increasing numbers of young Americans understand and are inspired by the ideas of individual freedom, a strong national defense, free enterprise, and traditional values.”

Traditional values include, the complaint states, truths like:

  • Men should not compete in women’s sports or use their bathrooms.
  • There are only two genders.
  • Sex is immutable.
  • Sex is immutable.
  • A man cannot get pregnant.
  • A man cannot become a woman, and a woman cannot become a man.

But UMN policies keep students afraid to discuss these issues and invite YAF speakers – like Ryan T. Anderson, Chloe Cole, Seth Dillon and Ben Shapiro – who oppose transgender dogma and indoctrination.

Southeastern Legal Foundation (SLF) filed the lawsuit June 19 on YAF’s behalf, explaining in a press release that policies which only allow students to agree with and express gender ideology violate students’ First Amendment rights.

The complaint points to UMN sexual harassment and discrimination policies that require agreement with transgender ideology and language. Anyone who feels “offended” by a YAF members’ speech can file a formal or anonymous complaint – which could lead to disciplinary action, including dismissal from the university.

In addition, the university policy “Equity and Access: Gender Identity, Gender Expression, Names and Pronouns,” states:

University members may, without being required to provide documentation: use a chosen name that differs from the name listed on their legal documents, use a gender identity that differs from their legal sex and/or sex assigned at birth, and/or specify the pronouns and other gendered personal references (e.g., Ms., Mx., Mr.) used to refer to them.

The rule goes on to state requirements for all students, staff, faculty, guests, contractors and volunteers:

University members and units are expected to use the names, gender identities, and pronouns specified to them by other University members, except as legally required. … University members and units are also expected to use other gendered personal references, if any, that are consistent with the gender identities and pronouns specified by University members.

The “Equity and Access” policy gives this definition of gender identity, which is a completely subjective societal and individual construct:

An individual’s own understanding of themselves in terms of gendered categories that may include female, male, transgender, genderqueer, genderfluid, gender nonconforming, Two Spirit, intersex, non-binary, agender, genderless, and many others. Gender identity cannot be reliably determined by looking at an individual. An individual’s gender identity may be consistent over their lifetime or may shift over time.

Evidently there’s equity or access for everyone at UMN – except for those who believe biblical and scientific truth about sex and sexual identity.

SLF President Kim Hermann said of the policies:

These students have to walk on eggshells while engaging with these topics, making sure to not voice opinions different from that of the school, or not use biologically correct pronouns of people, in fear of school disciplinary actions. It sounds to me like the school wants to be a safe place for some students but not all.

The nonprofit legal group, which works to protect constitutional rights, stated:

While the University attempts to justify the policies by saying that speech expressing traditional views based in biology on gender identity offends its hearers, the First Amendment does not allow universities, of all places, to restrict student speech just because someone may not agree or like it.

SLF and YAF argue that these policies are pure viewpoint discrimination, where students are afraid to speak about their views publicly, in fear that they will face severe discipline from the school.

YAF President Governor Scott Walker commented on the lawsuit, saying:

The fact that there are any universities in the US attempting to suppress certain views that they deem wrong is a complete outrage. While students at the University of Minnesota should just have to worry about their classwork, they now also have to worry about violating these policies that are infringing on their rights to speak freely. Not only is this unfair to students, and particularly conservative students, but it’s completely unconstitutional.

The Daily Citizen hopes Young America’s Foundation is successful with returning free speech and academic debate to the University of Minnesota.

Related articles and resources:

Chloe Cole: Transgender Surgery Regret

God’s Amazing Grace in a Transgendered Person’s Life

The Journey Back to My True Identity

Oregon School District Pays $650,000 for Firing Teachers Opposed to ‘Trans’ Policy

Teacher Wins $650,000 After Being Fired for Refusing to Use ‘Trans’ Pronouns

Teacher Wrongly Fired for Refusing to Use ‘Preferred Pronouns’ Wins $575,000

Transgender Resources

Free Speech Victory for Virginia Teacher Fired Over ‘Transgender’ Pronoun Policy