Fit for Pride

"[The] externally-booked event prompted UBC community members to express their views on freedom of expression and academic freedom, and ask questions around the university’s commitment to equity and inclusion."
"[The university remains] deeply committed to the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion. [It acknowledges some community members were] personally affected [by the event]."
"UBC remains committed to finding more ways to maintain a respectful environment for everyone in our community."
University of British Columbia vice-president academic, Andrew Szeri

UBC has been barred from the 2019 Vancouver Pride Parade after hosting what the Pride society describes as a "transphobic" speaker.   Simon Little / Global News

How, a logical mind might ask, can someone who identifies as a  transgender male be labelled "transphobic" by the LGBTQ2 community. Jenn Smith describes himself as an 'activist', and he campaigns, as a "transgender-identified male", through speaking engagements and published articles on the deleterious effects on society of "the dangers" of "transgender ideology". On June 23 Jenn Smith spoke on "The Erosion of Freedom: How Transgender Politics in School and Society is Undermining Our Freedom and Harming Women & Children"; the venue was UBC.

Jenn Smith, who identifies as a transgender man, has caused controversy across B.C. for recent anti-SOGI events. (Jenn Smith)

This did not sit well with Vancouver Pride, who warns groups and institutions that if they wish to be viewed as friendly to the LGBTQ2+ community and enjoy the privileges of a valued supporter of said community, they must submit to strict guidelines. The Vancouver Pride Society has taken the drastic step of 'disinviting' UBC from a presence at the Vancouver Pride Parade; due punishment for its indiscretion in permitting a 'transphobic' transgender male to air his rejection of the social climate that surrenders to the demands of the transgender community, introducing young children to trans identity at school.

The Society takes its entitlements seriously. It is on the constant lookout for "any recent homophobic or transphobic events and the institutional response", which led in this instance to disallowing the university to attend Pride events since it had dropped below Pride's minimum score enabling parade participation. While the university's invitation to attend the parade has been withdrawn, the generous offer to permit students, employees and faculty as individuals to march in the parade was extended; in other words disavowing their links to the university in favour of attending the parade.

"We reject applications every year. But not usually once they've been accepted and ready to go in the parade, in this instance."
"There was significant commentary and requests from the queer and trans community on campus and also other community groups for UBC to cancel the event."
"We definitely want to send a message to UBC and to other organizations as well."
"It's probably going to be disappointing for some people and to that I say: we're holding your organization, your university, to be accountable to make changes."

Andrea Arnot, executive director, Vancouver Pride Society

Participants in Vancouver's Pride Parade in 2016. UBC won't be marching this year. (Lien Yeung/CBC)

Well, several weeks have passed since Vancouver Pride disciplined UBC, forbidding them the privilege of marching in the Vancouver Pride Parade. And now, UBC has company; sitting in the penalty box with them is the Vancouver Public Library. Which failed to exercise its discretionary intelligence by permitting "transphobic hate speech" on their premises. A violation of the B.C. Human Rights Code, they thundered. And it's true the B.C. Human Rights Commission has certain standards of protection of human rights in favour of Pride.

But in accusing the library of hosting feminist activist Meghan Murphy whom Pride considers a purveyor of "transphobic hate speech" and where, they claimed "During this event five speakers asserted that transwomen are not women and should not be treated as women", they made their point. To which the detested feminist Meghan Murphy responded: "No one on the panel said anything derogatory, hateful or discriminatory about trans-identified people". Which goes to show how little an earnest critic knows of the trans community to whom any doubts as to the eligibility of a male to claim womanhood or vice versa is impermissibly violent.

 "To frame my speech, which advocates explicitly for women's rights, as well as for free speech, democracy, and the importance of public debate about policy and legislation impacting us all, as 'transphobic', dangerous, or 'discriminatory', is absolutely inaccurate." Innocently naive; the temper of the times mitigates against such dangerous thought as opposite opinions and reasonable debate, much less the airing of any opinions contradicting the 'settled question' of the authenticity of gender fluidity.

In theory universities and libraries have been bastions of free speech, arenas of intelligent discussion where students are exposed to all aspects by which any given topic may be viewed, questioned and determined on the basis of cerebral functioning and an open mind. Back to the B.C. Human Rights Code; it entertains discriminatory publication issues, not free and open debates. And nor have either Meghan Murphy, feminist activist, nor Jenn Smith, anti Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity activist been found guilty by law of "hate speech". 

At an earlier event where Meghan Murphy rented a room at the Vancouver Public Library, Vancouver Pride objected as well at that time. In response, VPL chief librarian Christina de Castell issued a statement to the effect that the library is "not endorsing, or hosting this event" and that it has "zero tolerance for discrimination and does not agree with the views of the Feminist Current" founded by Ms. Murphy. The library permitted the event to proceed in reflection of its "commitment to free speech and intellectual freedom".

"As such, we will not refuse to rent to an individual or organization simply because they are discussing controversial topics or views, even those we find offensive."
"We seek to be a welcoming place for all, and actively find ways to support the trans, gender variant and two-spirit communities."

The Vancouver Public Library's central branch has held LGBT events, such as this Pride display in 2013.

   Photo:  Charlie Smith