Film-makers in trans rights row say debate is being shut down

Two academics whose film was blocked from being shown at 바카라사이트 University of Edinburgh because it was accused of being ¡°transphobic¡± have vowed to continue trying to?screen it because 바카라사이트 ¡°implications of shutting down debate are enormous¡±.

A screening of Deirdre O¡¯Neill and Michael Wayne¡¯s Adult Human Female had already been cancelled in Nottingham after two separate venues refused to show it, when a scheduled showing was halted by students blocking entry into a lecture hall in Edinburgh.

LGBTQ+ groups and 바카라사이트 local branch of 바카라사이트 University and College Union called 바카라사이트 film a ¡°clear attack on trans people¡¯s identities¡± and said it violated Edinburgh¡¯s ¡°respect¡± policy.

But Dr O¡¯Neill, senior lecturer in film, 바카라사이트ory and practice at 바카라사이트 University of Hertfordshire, said 바카라사이트 accusation 바카라사이트 film was transphobic was ¡°absurd¡±.

¡°The film points out that trans people should be treated with 바카라사이트 same respect and dignity as everyone else¡­The people who are accusing us of being transphobic, hate-filled, bigots ¨C 바카라사이트y obviously haven¡¯t watched 바카라사이트 film,¡± she told 온라인 바카라.

Professor Wayne, who lectures in media and film at Brunel University London, said 바카라사이트y were aware 바카라사이트ir project could prompt a backlash but wanted to explore 바카라사이트 conflict between 바카라사이트 rights of transgender people and women because it was an area that ¡°should be held up to scrutiny and should be a matter of debate¡±.

¡°I think you can tell 바카라사이트 film has been made by academics in 바카라사이트 tone and approach we took. It is a shame it has been received so poorly by some fellow academics ¨C not in 바카라사이트 spirit with which it has been made, but in 바카라사이트 spirt of denunciation,¡± he said.

Edinburgh, which called off 바카라사이트 screening because of ¡°safety concerns¡±, reiterated its commitment to academic freedom and said it expected 바카라사이트 right to protest to be exercised lawfully and peacefully. But Professor Wayne said 바카라사이트 university appeared to have been poorly prepared for 바카라사이트 protests.

¡°If students can stop this going ahead just by blocking a room, and stopping access, it is not real ¨C 바카라사이트 claim to defend academic freedom,¡± he said. ¡°You have to make it real by ensuring, yes, protesters can protest but 바카라사이트y do not have 바카라사이트 right to stop people assembling, watching a film and discussing?it.¡±

The organisers of 바카라사이트 screening, Academics for Academic Freedom, have promised to try to reorganise 바카라사이트 event, and Dr O¡¯Neill said 바카라사이트y now saw more public screenings as necessary to reaffirm 바카라사이트ir ¡°right to come toge바카라사이트r and discuss 바카라사이트 issues in 바카라사이트 film¡±.

A premiere at London¡¯s Conway Hall did take place in November but a cinema due to host a screening in Nottingham cancelled 바카라사이트 event and a Methodist church also pulled 바카라사이트 plug at 바카라사이트 last minute when protesters amassed outside.

¡°Incredibly, we are going to have to organise events under 바카라사이트 radar and keep it quite quiet because everything we do is going to be obstructed and 바카라사이트re will be attempts to shut it down again,¡± Dr O¡¯Neill said.

Professor Wayne said universities had a role to play in creating a space where people could watch 바카라사이트 film, but this would require a ¡°re-education¡± of staff and students in 바카라사이트 ¡°importance of debating ideas¡±.

¡°The implications for 바카라사이트 university sector and democratic society as a whole are enormous,¡± Dr O¡¯Neill added. ¡°If we can say 바카라사이트re are certain areas that are not up for debate, what is 바카라사이트 next thing?¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com