Twitter’s dangerous approach to ‘hate speech’
by Meghan Murphy, UnHerd:
A little over two weeks ago, I was permanently suspended from Twitter. My crime? ‘Misgendering’ – I referred to an individual who claims to identify as a “transwoman” (but who goes by a male, as well as a female, name) as “him”. Apparently, using male pronouns to describe a male violates Twitter’s rules against “hateful conduct.” But unless stating facts is hate speech, I had not said anything “hateful”. By deeming my comments ‘hateful conduct’, Twitter is allowing a minority of trans activists to determine what may and may not be said, and by whom.
And Twitter is not the only platform facing pressure to punish women who speak uncomfortable truths. In a long read essay recently published by Broadly – Vice’s supposedly woman-centered wing – Eve Livingston expresses concern about what she characterises as “transphobia” on Mumsnet’s feminism board. In fact, Mumsnet has become one of the few places women are allowed to discuss their concerns about gender identity ideology and legislation — a breath of fresh air, considering the extreme harassment, bullying, and silencing that women are exposed to in just about every other forum (online and off) when they attempt to have such conversations.
[…] Over the past couple of weeks, trans activists launched a massive denial of service (DoS) attack against my site, Feminist Current; attempted to report me to the police for “hate speech” as founder and editor of the site; directed numerous graphic violent threats at me via Eventbrite, many of which were sexualised and misogynist; have libelled me online and in the mainstream media; and have threatened me with a lawsuit claiming that my stating that men are not women constitutes “hate speech” and “defamation.” (I have consulted numerous lawyers and it is most certainly neither.)
This all came after trans activists attempted to shut down an event I will be speaking at in January at the Vancouver Public Library (VPL). The event is an attempt to discuss the impact of gender identity ideology and legislation on women’s rights — apparently a subject that activists believe violates the Human Rights Code (they should probably read that).
Ironically, considering the threats against me, and considering that, as far as I am aware, no feminist has threatened a trans activist, Leftists and labour movement leaders are claiming my attempt to speak about women’s rights makes certain people feel “unsafe.” I am legitimately afraid for my safety due to actual threats made against me, yet my words are being positioned as dangerous.
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