American Association of University Professors, et al. vs. Albritton, et al.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, American Civil Liberties Union, and pro bono counsel Yetter Coleman LLP have filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Texas A&M University  System’s new extreme Censorship Policy that prohibits faculty from discussing certain topics and viewpoints related to race, sexual orientation, and gender.  The case was brought on behalf of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and Professors Leonard Bright, Vanita Reddy, Landon Sadler, and Aaron George against the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents.

Under the Board of Regents’ Censorship Policy, University officials have eliminated courses and lessons simply for mentioning certain politically targeted viewpoints on race, gender, or LGBTQIA+ topics. The Censorship Policy has prohibited University instructors from teaching works ranging from Plato’s  "Symposium", to the Oscar-winning best picture "Moonlight", to information about civil rights.

The lawsuit argues that the Censorship Policy violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution.

Our clients are asking the court to block this Policy and affirm that Texas A&M and all public institutions are meant to be pillars of academic freedom that empower students, faculty, and all Texans to engage in open discussions and promote critical thinking. We’re suing to stop this dangerous policy at one of the largest universities in the country — so that professors can teach, students can learn, and every Texan has the opportunity to get a high-quality education.

The lawsuit was filed in the Houston Division of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas on August 3, 2026.