When 80-year-old Julie Jaman saw what she believed was a deeply inappropriate and potentially dangerous situation unfolding in a public locker room, she did what most people would hope any responsible adult would do—she spoke up.
Instead of being heard, she was silenced.
Dan Proft and Amy Jacobson spoke with Mark Trammell, Executive Director of the Center for American Liberty, about Jaman v. City of Port Townsend—a new legal battle that could have significant implications for the First Amendment, women’s rights, and the public’s right to know.
Julie Jaman had been using her local YMCA facility for decades. But when she saw a biological male—wearing a women’s swimsuit—assisting young girls in the women’s locker room, she was shocked. She raised her concerns directly. Rather than address the situation, YMCA staff berated her, banned her for life, and even called the police.
Her “offense”? Expressing discomfort and concern over the YMCA’s gender policy—a policy that was never clearly communicated to members and that allows biological males access to women’s private spaces without prior notice.
Now, with the help of the Center for American Liberty, Julie is taking legal action. The lawsuit alleges that the YMCA and the City of Port Townsend violated her First Amendment rights by punishing her for the content of her speech. As Trammell explained in our interview, this case is about far more than one incident at a pool—it’s about the growing trend of silencing those who raise legitimate concerns about radical policy shifts.
“This is about speech,” Trammell said. “About whether Americans still have the right to voice their discomfort, their beliefs, and their values—especially when it comes to protecting children.”
Julie’s courage and conviction are now at the center of a legal battle that touches on some of the most controversial cultural questions of our time. Regardless of where you stand politically, the case raises serious questions: Who decides what speech is allowed? When do public policies cross the line from inclusive to intrusive? And how do we ensure that speaking up doesn’t come at the cost of being shut out?
Photo by Michelle Myers on Unsplash