Washington Woman Wins $65K Free Speech Settlement After YMCA Lifetime Ban

Julie Jaman was banned from her local pool after raising concerns about males in women’s locker room

In a major victory for free speech and civil liberties, Julie Jaman has reached a $65,000 settlement in her lawsuit against the City of Port Townsend and the Olympic Peninsula YMCA, after being permanently banned from the Mountain View Pool for expressing concerns about men in the women’s locker room.

“This case was never just about one woman being banned from a publicly owned pool, it was about the fundamental right of every American to speak truth without fear of retaliation,” said Mark Trammell, CEO of the Center for American Liberty. “Julie Jaman bravely stood her ground, endured attacks on her character, and today’s settlement affirms that government officials cannot silence dissenting voices through intimidation or retribution.”

Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, the lawsuit asserted that city officials and YMCA staff violated Jaman’s constitutional rights when they banned her for speaking out about safety concerns involving young girls. The case drew national attention after Jaman, 82, was ejected from the facility she had used for over three decades following her objection to a male who identifyies as female observing minors in a female-designated locker room.

“I never imagined that expressing concerns about the safety and privacy of women and girls would lead to me being shunned and banned,” said Julie Jaman. “I’m grateful that justice has been served and that my voice was heard. This is a victory for common sense, women’s rights, and the right to speak the truth.”

Under the terms of the settlement, Ms. Jaman will receive $65,000, including legal fees paid to the Center for American Liberty, which represented her. The City also agreed to remove certain information about Ms. Jaman from its website, further underscoring the baselessness of the actions taken against her.

The Center for American Liberty remains committed to defending citizens who are penalized for expressing viewpoints the government or its allies would rather suppress.

Washington Woman Wins $65K Free Speech Settlement After YMCA Lifetime Ban