University of Minnesota Sued for Chilling Speech on Trans Issues

The University of Minnesota unlawfully restricts students from expressing certain views on gender identity and transgender issues, a youth conservative nonprofit claims.

The university’s policies on sexual harassment and discrimination that prohibit misgendering and require students to use individuals’ preferred pronouns are unconstitutional, the Young America’s Foundation said in a complaint filed Thursday in the US District Court for the District of Minnesota. The policies are chilling students from “speaking broadly supported ideas like ‘men should not compete in women’s sports or use their bathrooms,’” the foundation alleges.

Defending Education, another conservative nonprofit, also filed a lawsuit against similar policies at the University of California system Thursday. The suits are part of a broader body of litigation K-12 schools and universities across the country are facing over their pronoun and other policies related to transgender students’ rights.

The University of Minnesota prohibits hostile environment sexual harassment, which is defined as unwelcome conduct on the basis of sex that creates an environment a reasonable person would find intimidating. The university’s policies cover persistent disparaging comments or jokes about gender stereotypes, and require students and staff to use individuals’ preferred names and pronouns.

The foundation argues the pronoun policy “rejects the viewpoint that an individual’s biological sex determines their gender,” and is unconstitutional because it requires a person to speak contrary to their deeply held beliefs.

The foundation says its members believe sex is determined at birth and can’t be changed, nor can an individual’s perceived gender identity allow them to play on certain sex-separated sports teams or use certain facilities.

Due to the university’s policies, its members “have self-censored and will continue to self-censor” to avoid potential investigations or disciplinary action. The foundation’s members fear that transgender or nonbinary individuals will file harassment or discrimination reports against them if they express their beliefs openly, the suit says.

The complaint asserts violations of the First and 14th amendments, and seeks to enjoin the challenged policies.

The University of Minnesota system didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Southeastern Legal Foundation represents YAF.

The case is Young Ams. Found. v. Cunningham, D. Minn., No. 0:26-cv-03016, complaint filed 6/18/26.