University of Wyoming Blocked from Censoring Christian Activist’s Speech Against Transgender Student
A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction preventing the University of Wyoming (UW) from censoring a Christian activist who publicly criticized a transgender student. The judge ruled in favor of Todd Schmidt, an elder at Laramie Faith Community Church, stating that the university cannot ban him from expressing his views on campus while the case is ongoing.
The controversy began on December 2, 2022, when Schmidt set up a table in the UW student union with a sign that read, God created male and female and Artemis Langford is a male. Mr. Langford is a transgender student who joined the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, prompting legal action from sorority members who alleged that admitting a biological male violated the organization’s rules.
When a UW administrator requested Schmidt to remove Langford’s name from his sign, he initially refused but eventually complied after the threat of police involvement. Schmidt continued to engage in debates with passing students throughout the day.
The university responded to the incident by imposing a one-year sanction on Schmidt, preventing him from reserving a table in the UW student union until spring 2024. In a campus-wide message, UW officials argued that Schmidt’s actions violated the university’s policy against discrimination and harassment.
Schmidt, however, maintained that his speech was protected by the First Amendment and was not harassment. US Senior District Judge Nancy Freudenthal agreed with Schmidt, stating that mentioning Langford’s name was necessary for him to express his opinion fully. She recognized that Schmidt intended to engage in a genuine debate about gender identity, which she deemed a matter of public importance.
The university expressed disappointment with the ruling and stated that it would comply with the terms of the preliminary injunction while deciding whether to continue defending its policy in court. The university emphasized its commitment to providing a forum for free expression while also prioritizing the protection of students from harassment and discrimination.
In a separate lawsuit, seven sorority sisters from the UW chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma claimed that the organization violated its own rules by admitting Langford. They seek damages and the revocation of Langford’s membership. Kappa Kappa Gamma countered the lawsuit, arguing that its membership criteria defined membership as individuals who identify as women.
The case highlights the ongoing debate over transgender rights and freedom of speech on college campuses. While universities aim to encourage inquiry and the challenging of assumptions, they also face the challenge of protecting students from discrimination and harassment. The court’s decision sets a precedent for the boundaries of free expression in this complex and sensitive context.
