Exclusive | UC colleges sued over policy that punishes students for ‘misgendering’ classmates
Exclusive | UC system sued over 'misgendering' disciplinary policy
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Skip to main content Metro exclusiveUC colleges sued over policy that punishes students for ‘misgendering’ classmates
By Titus Wu Published June 18, 2026, 11:00 a.m. ETSee more of our coverage in your search results.
Add The California Post on GoogleA wild University of California system policy that allegedly punished students for not using another person’s preferred pronouns has gotten the school into legal trouble courtesy of a lawsuit filed by a conservative watchdog.
UC’s Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy impinges on free speech rights, according to the complaint filed by Defending Education and obtained by The California Post.
“UC leaves no doubt that its ban on hostile-environment harassment covers protected speech,” legal representatives for Defending Education said in the documents.
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One section of the policy lists derogatory slurs related to sexual orientation as an example of “harassment.” A person simply laughing at someone for acting a certain way would violate the policy, it added. Verbal speech like that is legally protected, Defending Education claimed.
The policy also lists “intentional or repeated use of a name or pronoun inconsistent with the individual’s gender identity” as an example of harassment.
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The policy’s reach is overly broad, according to Defending Education’s lawsuit, which notes that “prohibited conduct” can occur online or via text message — not just on campus — and requires school employees to report suspected violations.
The lawsuit argues the penalties are severe, including expulsion from the UC system, revocation of academic degrees, and bans from certain campus activities and locations.
It also points to student training materials that classify complaints about being “misgendered” as prohibited conduct and state that individuals cannot be asked to use a bathroom that does not align with their gender identity.
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Such draconian rules have real consequences, Defending Education claimed.
“These students want to engage in speech covered by the SVSH Policy, but they credibly fear that the expression of their deeply held views will lead to punishment,” it said.
The organization said it has testimony from students who feel pressured under the policy. One of them, a senior at UCLA, claimed using non-matching pronouns would violate her religious views but she is forced to “self censor.”
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Two other students at UC San Diego and UC Irvine also expressed similar struggles in the complaint and all have “no ill-will towards people who identify as transgender or nonbinary.” But they said they feel they could not even criticize school policies.
“It is a long-standing principle of constitutional law, frequently repeated by the US Supreme Court, that individuals cannot be compelled to express messages with which they disagree,” Sarah Parshall Perry, Vice President and Legal Fellow at Defending Education, said in a statement.
“California has effectively silenced students in the UC system by forcing them to affirm one particular viewpoint on gender identity, and biological sex.”
The UC System did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The lawsuits adds on to the string of race-and-gender-based controversies embroiling California’s higher education system.
The Trump administration has been investigating discrimination in hiring and admissions against white and male applicants at multiple schools, and funding had been frozen over alleged civil rights violations and transgender policies.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
