University of Oklahoma Trans Instructor's Attorney Still in the Fight After Appeal Denied

February 11, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

🎙️ The Voices & The Context

The Format: Casual interview-style podcast episode with host-led discussion, weaving personal anecdotes, current events, and legal analysis.
The Key Players:
- Host: Bridget Todd – Journalist and podcast creator, draws from her education background for insightful commentary.
- Guest: Brittany Stewart – Trans civil rights attorney in Oklahoma (now Minnesota-based), representing Mel Kirth; co-hosts a Thunder basketball podcast, adding relatable flair.
The Vibe: Intense and educational with undercurrents of hope; mixes outrage over anti-trans attacks with uplifting community stories and sharp humor.

🗝️ Key Themes & Topics

The episode dives into anti-trans discrimination in academia, broader right-wing efforts to purge LGBTQ+ voices, community resilience amid federal crackdowns, and strategic legal advocacy.

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What you'll learn

1 (00:00) **🎙️ Introduction: Brittany Stewart**
2 (03:07) **Recap of Mel Kirth's Case**
3 (05:07) **Brittany's Path to Advocacy**
4 (08:11) **Current Climate in Minnesota**
5 (15:10) **Update on Mel's Situation**
6 (17:54) **Appeal Denied by Outside Firm**
7 (24:00) **Samantha's Media Blitz and Impact on Mel**

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

When graduate instructor Mel Curth gave a student a failing grade for work that didn't answer the assignment, she couldn't have predicted what would happen next. Within days, the student, backed by Turning Point USA and right-wing media, had launched a national campaign. The university removed Mel from teaching. The grade was thrown out. And the student became a conservative media celebrity.

Mel’s attorney Brittany Stewart, has defended LGBTQ rights in Oklahoma for decades, breaks down what really happened at the University of Oklahoma, and what it reveals about the coordinated effort to push trans people out of academia and public life.

Listen to our full episode breaking down the situation (and yes, we read Samantha’s full essay!): https://omny.fm/shows/there-are-no-girls-on-the-internet/this-univ-of-oklahoma-essay-is-so-bad-it-launched-a-culture-war-career

Listen to Brittany’s great podcast The Thunder Gals (OKC’s ONLY female-led Thunder media!!) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-thunder-gals/id1555886306

Follow Bridget and TANGOTI on social media! || instagram.com/bridgetmarieindc/ || tiktok.com/@bridgetmarieindc || youtube.com/@ThereAreNoGirlsOnTheInternet || bsky.app/profile/tangoti.bsky.social

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