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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Meghan Murphy: Canadian feminist's trans talk sparks uproar | Meghan Murphy: Canadian feminist's trans talk sparks uproar |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A Canadian library has been criticised for refusing to cancel an event hosting a feminist with controversial views on transgender rights. | |
| Hundreds of protesters gathered outside a branch of the Toronto Public Library as writer Meghan Murphy gave a talk inside. | |
| The library defended its decision to allow her talk on gender identity and "society, the law and women". | |
| Campaigners have called Ms Murphy anti-transgender, which she denies. | Campaigners have called Ms Murphy anti-transgender, which she denies. |
| Toronto police quoted by Global News said officers had been present inside and outside the event to "keep the peace." | |
| Global News reporter Kamil Karamali tweeted that attendees were escorted by police out the back of the building when the talk ended. | |
| What is Meghan Murphy's stance? | What is Meghan Murphy's stance? |
| Ms Murphy says she wants to ensure the safety of women in places like female prisons, women's refuges and changing rooms. | Ms Murphy says she wants to ensure the safety of women in places like female prisons, women's refuges and changing rooms. |
| In Canada, she has spoken against a bill that amended Canada's rights act to prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender expression and identity over concerns it could undermine women's rights by eroding their "safe spaces". | In Canada, she has spoken against a bill that amended Canada's rights act to prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender expression and identity over concerns it could undermine women's rights by eroding their "safe spaces". |
| "Under current trans activist doctrine we're not allowed to exclude a man from a woman's space if he says that he's female and I find that quite dangerous and troubling," she told the BBC. | "Under current trans activist doctrine we're not allowed to exclude a man from a woman's space if he says that he's female and I find that quite dangerous and troubling," she told the BBC. |
| She says she believes the transgender activist movement is "regressive and sexist" and ignores women and girls. | She says she believes the transgender activist movement is "regressive and sexist" and ignores women and girls. |
| The talk's organisers, a group called Radical Feminists Unite, have said they are "not a hate group, and we do not espouse hate speech, or advocate for the removal of rights from any marginalised group". | The talk's organisers, a group called Radical Feminists Unite, have said they are "not a hate group, and we do not espouse hate speech, or advocate for the removal of rights from any marginalised group". |
| The event was sold out. | |
| Judith Taylor, from University of Toronto's Women and Gender Studies Institute, calls Ms Murphy "basically a provocateur". | Judith Taylor, from University of Toronto's Women and Gender Studies Institute, calls Ms Murphy "basically a provocateur". |
| She thinks that Ms Murphy, in asserting the rights of one group "is implicitly trying to sideline another" and disagrees with Ms Murphy that safe spaces and diversity cannot coexist. | She thinks that Ms Murphy, in asserting the rights of one group "is implicitly trying to sideline another" and disagrees with Ms Murphy that safe spaces and diversity cannot coexist. |
| "The more that we start embracing that diversity the better our learning and the better our strength," she said. | "The more that we start embracing that diversity the better our learning and the better our strength," she said. |
| What has the library said? | What has the library said? |
| City librarian Vickery Bowles released a statement in mid-October defending the decision to host the event, saying that as a public institution it has "an obligation to protect free speech". | City librarian Vickery Bowles released a statement in mid-October defending the decision to host the event, saying that as a public institution it has "an obligation to protect free speech". |
| She said that while the library supports the LGBT community and can cancel a room rental if it believes "the event will promote discrimination, contempt or hatred for any individual or group" this case does not violate its rental policies. | She said that while the library supports the LGBT community and can cancel a room rental if it believes "the event will promote discrimination, contempt or hatred for any individual or group" this case does not violate its rental policies. |
| Ms Bowles, who sought legal opinion on the matter, added Ms Murphy has never been charged with or convicted of hate speech in Canada. | Ms Bowles, who sought legal opinion on the matter, added Ms Murphy has never been charged with or convicted of hate speech in Canada. |
| The decision to honour the room booking received the support of PEN Canada, a major writers' organisation, on Monday. | The decision to honour the room booking received the support of PEN Canada, a major writers' organisation, on Monday. |
| What has been the response? | What has been the response? |
| Opponents to the library's decision include Toronto Mayor John Tory, who has called it "disappointing". | Opponents to the library's decision include Toronto Mayor John Tory, who has called it "disappointing". |
| An online petition started by three local authors calling for the event to be cancelled had more than 8,000 signatures by Tuesday. | |
| Those who signed it said they would no longer participate in library events if Ms Murphy's talk went ahead. | |
| Pride Toronto, the organisation behind the city's annual pride festival, warned the library "there will be consequences to our relationship for this betrayal". | Pride Toronto, the organisation behind the city's annual pride festival, warned the library "there will be consequences to our relationship for this betrayal". |
| It said in a statement that Ms Murphy's views are "a denial of the lives, experiences and identities of trans people". | It said in a statement that Ms Murphy's views are "a denial of the lives, experiences and identities of trans people". |
| Two city councillors - Kristyn Wong-Tam and Mike Layton - are asking for a review of policies governing the use of community spaces at the Toronto library and other public spaces. | |
| Early this year, a similar talk that included Ms Murphy at a public library in Vancouver drew both protesters and a sold-out crowd. The library was later barred from participating in the city's pride parade. | Early this year, a similar talk that included Ms Murphy at a public library in Vancouver drew both protesters and a sold-out crowd. The library was later barred from participating in the city's pride parade. |
| In May, Ms Murphy was invited to the Scottish Parliament to speak on transgender issues as Edinburgh planned reforms to the Gender Recognition Act to allow people to "self-declare" their legally recognised gender. | In May, Ms Murphy was invited to the Scottish Parliament to speak on transgender issues as Edinburgh planned reforms to the Gender Recognition Act to allow people to "self-declare" their legally recognised gender. |
| Campaigners at the time said Ms Murphy wanted transgender equality protections "ripped apart". | Campaigners at the time said Ms Murphy wanted transgender equality protections "ripped apart". |
| She was also banned from Twitter for stating that "men aren't women" and for "misgendering" transgender women on the site. She has taken legal action against the company. | She was also banned from Twitter for stating that "men aren't women" and for "misgendering" transgender women on the site. She has taken legal action against the company. |