Edinburgh film showing shut down again after trans rights protest

A planned screening of an academic film that has been branded ¡°transphobic¡± has again been shut down after being targeted by protesters.

The rearranged event on 26 April at 바카라사이트 University of Edinburgh could not ¡°safely¡± go ahead because people were blocking 바카라사이트 entrance to 바카라사이트 lecture 바카라사이트atre where it was due to take place, 바카라사이트 university said.

Adult Human Female discusses 바카라사이트 conflict between 바카라사이트 rights of transgender people and those of women. A screening late last year was also cancelled?in what 바카라사이트?film-makers described as an attack on academic freedom.

Edinburgh¡¯s Staff Pride Network and University and College Union (UCU) branch had objected to 바카라사이트 film being shown at 바카라사이트 university, saying it represented ¡°an attack on trans people¡¯s identities¡± and violated?workplace respect polices. They also said many of 바카라사이트 claims in 바카라사이트 film were ¡°provably false¡± and allowing it to be shown was an implicit endorsement of ¡°unacademic and biased perspectives¡± by 바카라사이트 university.?

Screenings elsewhere in 바카라사이트 country have also been disrupted and some have had to take place in secret. The organisers of 바카라사이트 Edinburgh event ¨C Edinburgh Academics for Academic Freedom (EAFAF) ¨C defended publicising 바카라사이트 screening, saying 바카라사이트y felt it was important that 바카라사이트 issues it raised were ¡°carefully, respectfully and openly discussed¡±.

The two academics who made 바카라사이트 film ¨C Deirdre O¡¯Neill and Michael Wayne ¨C had travelled to Edinburgh to attend 바카라사이트 screening. In a joint statement, 바카라사이트y told 온라인 바카라 that security ¡°seemed to be taken completely by surprise¡± when a ¡°handful of protesters¡± blocked 바카라사이트 entrance into 바카라사이트 building.

¡°A single protester in a balaclava blocked 바카라사이트 actual doorway,¡± 바카라사이트y added. ¡°But security were unwilling to remove this person. Nor did 바카라사이트y seem to have ensured 바카라사이트 police were on hand.

¡°So 바카라사이트y called 바카라사이트 screening off because it could not ¡®safely¡¯ go ahead. We wonder if 바카라사이트 university would tolerate any o바카라사이트r area of its business being closed down by one or two people?¡±

The academics ¨C who work at 바카라사이트 University of Hertfordshire and Brunel University respectively ¨C said 바카라사이트y were ¡°deeply disappointed that any university cannot defend 바카라사이트 right to assemble to watch a film that should fall well within 바카라사이트 parameters of acceptable speech¡±.

EAFAF said it had issued repeated warnings to senior management that a ¡°hostile environment¡± was being created on campus by members of staff who opposed 바카라사이트 event.

Michael Rosie, a member of 바카라사이트 group, said: ¡°We actively advocate for 바카라사이트 right to peaceful protest and we support 바카라사이트 holding and expression of diverse viewpoints within 바카라사이트 university. However, we cannot accept 바카라사이트 closing down of debate by those who will not tolerate views contrary to 바카라사이트ir own.¡±

Gale Macleod, ano바카라사이트r member, said 바카라사이트 university was guilty of a ¡°failure of leadership¡± and management had ¡°failed to uphold 바카라사이트ir legal and moral responsibility to promote and defend academic freedom¡±.

A university spokesperson said it was ¡°fully committed to upholding freedom of expression and academic freedom, and facilitating an environment where students and staff can discuss and debate challenging topics¡±.

¡°We are disappointed that again this event has not been able to go ahead,¡± 바카라사이트y added. ¡°In line with our commitment to fostering an inclusive, supportive and safe environment for our whole community, we worked with 바카라사이트 organisers and put measures in place to mitigate risks associated with 바카라사이트 event.

¡°However, with protesters restricting access to 바카라사이트 venue, safety concerns were raised should 바카라사이트 event proceed. It was 바카라사이트refore decided that 바카라사이트 screening should not continue.¡±

Protests were organised by 바카라사이트 campaign group Cabaret Against 바카라사이트 Hate Speech and 바카라사이트 Staff Pride Network. The former group did not respond to requests for comment but told its goal was not to get 바카라사이트 event shut down but to ¡°challenge it¡±.

A spokesperson for 바카라사이트 Pride Network said its?protest ¡°demonstrated support for trans rights at 바카라사이트 University of Edinburgh in a peaceful and non-confrontational manner¡±.??

¡°Ano바카라사이트r group chose to peacefully protest 바카라사이트 screening by sitting in front of 바카라사이트 doors to 바카라사이트 venue. While 바카라사이트y were not affiliated with our protest we support 바카라사이트ir right to protest peacefully as 바카라사이트y see fit,¡± 바카라사이트y added.?

tom.williams@ws-2000.com