For voicing concerns on men entering women’s restrooms at the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University, two women, Selene Cerankosky and Maria Arcara, were slapped with no-contact orders. A complaint to the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion led to these orders. This was followed by civil rights non-profit Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) launching a lawsuit on their behalf. A statement released by Cerankosky said, “Universities should be the place where free speech is celebrated the most.”
Their concerns surfaced in a GroupMe chat among the law school’s Class of 2025, in response to a male classmate’s proposal to add feminine hygiene products in male restrooms. The women voiced fears that this could lead to male intrusion into private female spaces, contravening their safety, privacy, and religious beliefs about sexuality.
The ADF has now filed a federal lawsuit, arguing that the school violated the women’s First and 14th Amendment rights by restraining their ability to contact the male student. It also alleges that the university unlawfully used Title IX and sexual harassment policies against the women. Tyson Langhofer, an ADF attorney, criticized the university’s policy allowing punishment of students whose controversial opinions differ from the school’s. He urged the court to reinstate the students’ First Amendment rights.
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