The University of B.C. is no longer allowed to march at the Vancouver Pride Parade.
The Vancouver Pride Society released a statement Monday saying it is revoking the university’s entry “due to their decision to provide a platform for transphobic hate speech.”
UBC allowed anti-SOGI speaker Jenn Smith to speak on campus in an “externally booked” event, citing Smith’s free speech rights.
Smith identifies as transgender, but he has spoken out against SOGI on a multitude of occasions.
Smith’s talk, called ‘The Erosion of Freedom: How transgender politics in school and society is undermining our freedom and harming women and children,” took place at UBC on June 23.
The pride society said UBC faculty and students can still apply to march in the parade. Those wishing to take part must answer a series of questions all the society to “assess their alignment” with Vancouver Pride Society values.
UBC dropped below the score needed to march in the parade after allowing Smith to speak, it said.
UBC vice-president of academics Andrew Szeri said the university “remains committed to finding more ways to maintain a respectful environment for everyone in our community.”
The school would refer its policy on booking and renting university space to its Board of Governors meeting in September.
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