‘Hate speech’ visit turned into gender debate

Controversial journalist Milo Yiannopoulos is to be confronted in a debate by feminist Rebecca Reid in front of the University of Bristol’s Journalism Society after calls for him to be banned from the campus.

The original event, a talk from Yiannopoulos about the challenges of gender politics, was turned into a debate labelled ‘Have we reached an age of gender equality?’, after a protest sparked by the university’s Feminist Society members who demanded his visit was cancelled.

The guest, notorious for his strong opinion on gender equality and denying rape culture, had already been banned by Manchester University earlier this year on similar grounds.

The row at Universtiy of Bristol is the latest in a series of controversies around attempts to ban speakers – including Germaine Greer – from university campuses across the country.

Feminist Society spokesman, Hanna Dualeh, claimed that inviting Yiannopoulos to speak on the topic of gender politics, considering Milo’s views on sexual assault and transgenderism, would “jeopardize the security and safety of students”, violating the university’s Safe Space Policy meant to ensure protection from judgment and intimidation.

The society added: “We are not in favour of the kind of hate speech and vitriol that Yiannapoulos perpetuates. We believe that all societies should uphold the safety and security of all students at the University, and we feel that the Journalism Society has failed to take this essential factor into consideration.”

Charlie Oxborough, president of LGBT Society added that she was disappointed that Bristol University Journalism Society has favoured to host Yiannopolous, in place of a speaker who could present more of a balanced discussion on gender politics.

“I hope that students seek to uphold the society’s reputation by not honouring Yiannopolous with a platform, and understand that his views represent neither truth nor any form of good journalism,” she continued.

Rebecca Reid, journalist for The Telegraph, feminist and University of Bristol graduate, backed them up on Twitter, stating that “when you give someone, like Milo, a platform you condone their behaviour”, adding that she was ashamed of her former university for allowing the event to take place.

The University’s Journalism Society, together with a majority of students, however, called for freedom of speech.

“If you so strongly disagree with his views, we encourage you to come to the talk and challenge his views through a question and answer session” said, Ben Kew, head of the society. “I’m very willing to turn this into a debate, if FemSoc are interested,” he added.

After a provocative exchange of Tweets, Reid was invited by Yiannopoulos himself to express her opinion in debate and she took up the challenge.

The event, which will take place on November 27, is now billed by the journalism society as a “really engaging debate about another pressing issue of our time, but most of all interesting and enjoyable for all those in attendance”.

Due to demand, only University of Bristol students will be able to attend.