Defending Ed files second Title IX complaint against University of Wisconsin-Madison

Defending Ed has filed a civil rights complaint against the University of Wisconsin-Madison, alleging violations of Title IX. The complaint, submitted on November 12, 2025, centers on the university’s policies regarding access to restrooms and other intimate spaces.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is the largest post-secondary institution in the state, with about 50,000 students. According to Defending Ed, while the university acknowledges that Title IX prohibits discrimination based on sex, its current policies focus on “gender identity.” The policy referenced by Defending Ed is “UW-6009: Inclusive Facilities Policy and Procedures for All Buildings,” which states: “students, staff, faculty, and visitors have the right to use the restroom, locker room, shower, or changing facility most safe and comfortable for them, without being harassed or questioned, regardless of gender expression or sex assigned at birth.”

The policy also outlines plans for single-use “gender neutral” restrooms but allows individuals to use any gendered restroom they find safest and most comfortable. This approach permits male students to enter female restrooms across all UW-Madison facilities.

According to Defending Ed’s statement: “If women are uncomfortable sharing multi-stall restrooms with biological males, the University instructs them to use a limited number of gender inclusive, single-occupancy restrooms instead. Forcing women to give up the private spaces and facilities that Title IX guarantees is a violation of the spirit, history, and plain text of that law.”

This marks the second civil rights complaint filed by Defending Ed against UW-Madison this year. The organization expressed hope for prompt action from federal authorities: “This is the second civil rights complaint that Defending Education has filed against University of Wisconsin Madison this year and we look forward to the Department of Education’s speedy resolution.”