Overview
- Defending Education filed the lawsuit on Thursday, June 18, 2026, arguing that the UC system’s Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment (SVSH) policy violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments by coercing speech.
- The complaint highlights policy language that lists the “intentional or repeated use of a name or pronoun inconsistent with the individual’s gender identity” and jokes about sexual orientation as examples of harassment.
- Plaintiffs say the policy reaches conduct off campus and online, requires university employees to report suspected violations, and is taught through mandatory SHAPE training for students and staff.
- The suit cites severe university sanctions available under the policy, including expulsion from the UC system, revocation of academic degrees, and bans from campus activities or locations.
- The case is in early litigation with no court rulings and no immediate public response from UC; coverage so far comes largely from conservative outlets and frames the dispute against recent Title IX shifts emphasising biological sex.