An 18-year-old Minnesota student, Gerika Mudra, has filed a discrimination complaint with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights. The filing, submitted through the advocacy organization Gender Justice, concerns an incident in April 2025 at a Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant in Owatonna.
According to the complaint and statements from Gender Justice, Mudra visited the restaurant with a friend and used the women’s restroom. She says a server followed her inside, knocked on the closed stall door, and demanded that she prove she was female. The server allegedly stood in the doorway, preventing her from leaving, until she unzipped her hoodie to expose her breasts. After that, the server left without further comment or apology.
Mudra identifies as biracial and lesbian. Gender Justice says the incident was rooted in assumptions about gender presentation and reflects broader patterns of harassment faced by people who do not conform to certain gender norms.
Sara Jane Baldwin, a senior staff attorney at Gender Justice, stated that Minnesota law prohibits this type of discrimination in public accommodations. She said businesses must ensure that customers are free from harassment and that Mudra’s experience violated those protections.
Megan Peterson, executive director of Gender Justice, noted that while Mudra is not transgender, her experience mirrors the treatment that many transgender and gender-expansive individuals face in public spaces, particularly when attempting to use restrooms. She emphasized that such incidents can affect a person’s sense of safety and ability to participate fully in public life.
The complaint seeks to hold the restaurant accountable under the Minnesota Human Rights Act, which requires equal access to public spaces regardless of gender, sexual orientation, or race. Gender Justice is calling for improved staff training, clear anti-discrimination policies, and measures to prevent similar incidents.
Buffalo Wild Wings has not issued a public response. News outlets, including KTTC, KAAL-TV, and MPR News, report that the company has not responded to their requests for comment.
The case comes amid ongoing national discussions about gender rights, public restroom access, and the treatment of LGBTQ+ individuals in public settings. Advocates say the incident demonstrates how assumptions about gender can lead to invasive questioning and actions, even against individuals who are cisgender.
Mudra’s complaint now moves through the Minnesota Department of Human Rights process, which could lead to mediation, settlement, or further legal action depending on the findings.
(Rh/Eth/NS/TL)