Georgia settles lawsuit with former GSU director over LGBTQ+ advocacy

The state of Georgia and Georgia Southern University (GSU) have agreed to a $250,000 settlement to resolve a lawsuit filed by Gemma Skuraton, the university’s former director of student health and wellness promotion.

Skuraton alleged she was wrongfully terminated in July 2025 after opposing university decisions to reduce support for transgender and nonbinary students. The lawsuit claimed these actions infringed upon her First Amendment and Title IX rights. Key points of contention included the university’s rejection of a grant application to provide free chest binders to students, as well as the removal of Pride flags and gender-affirming healthcare information from campus.

Under the terms of the settlement, the Georgia Department of Administrative Services will pay approximately $144,365 to Skuraton and $105,634 to her attorneys. Additionally, Skuraton’s termination will be recorded as a voluntary resignation, her termination letter will be removed from her personnel file, and she will receive a neutral reference letter for future employment.