Joe Gow, the former chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, filed a federal lawsuit on Monday, seeking reinstatement as a tenured professor after being fired for his involvement in producing adult entertainment. Gow’s case has drawn national attention for its mix of free speech concerns and the ethical questions surrounding his actions as a university official.
Firing Sparked by Pornographic Content
Gow’s dismissal began after an anonymous complaint revealed his involvement in creating adult content with his wife, Carmen Wilson. The pair starred in pornographic videos, published e-books about their experiences under pseudonyms, and hosted a “Sexy Healthy Cooking” YouTube series, where they openly discussed sexual topics.
The University of Wisconsin system regents removed Gow as chancellor in December 2023, citing ethical concerns, contract violations, and reputational harm to the institution. Though Gow held a backup tenured position as a communications professor, interim Chancellor Betsy Morgan placed him on paid leave, and the regents formally terminated his professorship in September 2024.
Gow Defends His Actions
In his lawsuit, Gow argues that his termination violated his First Amendment rights, stating that his creative projects were legal, non-obscene, and produced outside his university responsibilities. He claims the videos and books were made during personal time and funded privately, with no effort to associate them with his university role.
“As a public employee, Dr. Gow has a First Amendment right to speak as a private citizen on issues of public concern, such as healthy human sexuality and the best ways to promote strong monogamous marriages,” the lawsuit asserts.
Gow maintains that his projects did not involve university resources or audiences, stating that he avoided discussing the content with students or colleagues. He has not apologized for his work or ruled out producing similar content in the future.
Faculty Committee Cited Ethical Violations
A UW-La Crosse faculty committee, while acknowledging that producing adult content is not inherently unethical, supported Gow’s dismissal. It cited concerns that he leveraged his faculty position to promote his projects.
The committee pointed to a 2018 incident where Gow invited adult film star Nina Hartley to speak on campus without disclosing his collaboration with her on a sex video. Additionally, the committee questioned Gow’s credibility for marketing his e-books as factual despite admitting to “creative liberties.”
The committee also criticized Gow for his lack of cooperation during the investigation. Gow countered that he offered to respond to inquiries in writing.
Gow Seeks Court-Ordered Reinstatement
Gow’s lawsuit, filed in Madison on the first day of UW-La Crosse’s spring semester, seeks reinstatement as a professor, along with compensation for lost wages and damages.
Gow told the Associated Press that his case is about protecting free speech for public employees. “I should be in the classroom today,” he said, referring to his filing date.