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University Of Colorado Declares Misgendering An "Act Of Violence"
Jonathan Turley: CONSTITUTIONAL LAW, FREE SPEECH, POLITICS ^ | 05/31/2023 | Jonathan Turley

Posted on 05/31/2023 9:26:56 PM PDT by SeekAndFind

The University of Colorado Boulder (Boulder) is under fire this week for a statement on the “Pride Office” website stating that misgendering people can be considered an “act of violence.”

The guide on pronouns is reportedly the work of students associated with the office and states that “choosing to ignore or disrespect someone’s pronouns is not only an act of oppression but can also be considered an act of violence.”

It is a familiar position for many in higher education.

Opposing viewpoints are now routinely declared to be violence. That allows professors and students to rationalize their own act of violence or censorship.

The most vivid example was recently seen at Hunter College, which is part of the CUNY system. Professor Shellyne Rodríguez recently was fired after holding a machete to the neck of a New York Post reporter and threatened to “chop you up.” However, Hunter College decided not to fire her over a prior incident in which she trashed a pro-life table run by students.

Rodríguez spotted students with pro-life material at the college. She was captured on a videotape telling the students that “you’re not educating s–t […] This is f–king propaganda. What are you going to do, like, anti-trans next? This is bulls–t. This is violent. You’re triggering my students.” Even after a remarkably polite student said that he was “sorry,” Rodríguez would have nothing of it. After all, espousing pro-life views is now “violence.” Rodríguez rejected the apology and declared “No you’re not — because you can’t even have a f–king baby. So you don’t even know what that is. Get this s–t the f–k out of here.”

Just a week earlier, a professor stopped another “violent” display of pro-life views in New York. Professor Renee Overdyke of the State University of New York at Albany shut down a pro-life display and then resisted arrest.

At the University of California at Santa Barbara, feminist studies associate professor Mireille Miller Young criminally assaulted pro-life advocates on campus, and later pleaded guilty to the crime. She was defended by faculty and students, including many who said she was “triggered” by a pro-life display and that pro-life advocates were “terrorists” who did not deserve free speech.

It is that easy. You simply declare opposing views “violent” and then you can justify your own violence as a matter of self-defense.

The Colorado controversy does not involve acts of violence over misgendering. Moreover, the guide reflects a deep-felt concern that using someone’s pronouns incorrectly, even unintentionally, leads to “dysphoria, exclusion and alienation.” There are also some positive recommendations in dealing with these difficult situations.

However, this is a university site and there are countervailing free speech costs to characterizing of opposing views on pronouns as violence. As have previously discussed how other countries are prosecuting those who “misgender.” Schools in the United States have promised disciplinary action against any misgendering despite some court cases ruling for faculty with opposing views on pronouns. Even passing out “he/his” candies can result in a university investigation.

Conservative sites like Campus Reform have reported on the Colorado controversy and sought clarification.

Universities are often presented with difficult countervailing interests. On one hand, it must maintain a welcoming and tolerant environment. On the other hand, it must protect free speech values, including the right to express unpopular views or values.

Colorado students have every right to declare misgendering as violence in their eyes, even if many of us disagree. However, the university has an obligation to clearly establish that such views are not the policy or approach of the university itself. The site states “This information was created by students, for students. The university supports an inclusive environment.” It should state that “while the university supports an inclusive environment, the statements on this site are not official statements or policies of the university.” Otherwise, the university should address the free speech implications of declaring misgendering as a violent act.


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Education; Society
KEYWORDS: censorship; college; colorado; freespeech; homosexualagenda; lgbt; misgendering; transgender
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1 posted on 05/31/2023 9:26:56 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

White normals can put up with a lot, but push them over the edge and they will level entire continents.


2 posted on 05/31/2023 9:33:55 PM PDT by Chad C. Mulligan
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To: Chad C. Mulligan

“I want you to be nice, until it’s time to not be nice.”


3 posted on 05/31/2023 9:34:19 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: SeekAndFind

These people can seriously KMA. I will never bend the knee to these pukes. Never.


4 posted on 05/31/2023 9:36:20 PM PDT by vpintheak (Live free, or die!)
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To: vpintheak

I wonder what their new football coach would say to this.


5 posted on 05/31/2023 9:36:59 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: Chad C. Mulligan

There is no edge anymore. Flat land for as far as the eye can see.


6 posted on 05/31/2023 9:46:25 PM PDT by kelly4c
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To: All

Would it be evil of me to say that these people should learn first hand what REAL VIOLENCE looks and feels like?


7 posted on 05/31/2023 9:58:29 PM PDT by LegendHasIt
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To: SeekAndFind

If “misgendering” is now violence, they will have to start arresting a lot of us and throwing us in jail. They will have to build a lot more prisons to hold us (assuming we surrender peacefully). Great way to start a civil war !


8 posted on 05/31/2023 10:01:23 PM PDT by Gnome1949
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To: Gnome1949

“Our violence is speech. Your speech is violence.”

- The Left


9 posted on 05/31/2023 10:16:49 PM PDT by Dr.Deth
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To: SeekAndFind

What garbage, I read the pronoun guide. They all want to be something their not.

Ze zir Zim...are they kidding? Who made all this crap up?


10 posted on 05/31/2023 10:18:54 PM PDT by toddausauras (Trump Lake 2024....Go down swinging!)
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To: toddausauras

These things happen when you go 80+ years without a major war. People have too much free time on their hands to think up crap like this.


11 posted on 05/31/2023 10:22:12 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: dfwgator

So true.


12 posted on 05/31/2023 10:27:24 PM PDT by toddausauras (Trump Lake 2024....Go down swinging!)
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To: SeekAndFind

Um...I thought SCOTUS already ruled that compelled speech violates free speech.

I’m sure there are some entrepreneurial lawyers out there that can reeducate the university for a hefty fee...


13 posted on 05/31/2023 10:40:47 PM PDT by rottndog (What comes after America?)
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To: Dr.Deth

Also remember...your silence is violence too.


14 posted on 05/31/2023 10:42:49 PM PDT by rottndog (What comes after America?)
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To: rottndog

The alumni and some benefactors have awoken ( my type of “woke” like Yamamoto’s Sleeping Giant) and are striking back with lawsuits and no donations.

Hit them in the pocketbook and then kick them in the balls through use of the media. A double-whammy is guaranteeing that at least one of those counterpunches will hit the target very hard.


15 posted on 05/31/2023 10:50:04 PM PDT by MadMax, the Grinning Reaper (Figures )
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To: SeekAndFind

Whatever patience I had with the alphabet gang has officially diminished!


16 posted on 05/31/2023 11:17:29 PM PDT by No name given (Anonymous is who you’ll know me as)
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To: Dr.Deth

Profound.


17 posted on 05/31/2023 11:19:53 PM PDT by takebackaustin
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To: MadMax, the Grinning Reaper
Hit them in the pocketbook and then kick them in the balls through use of the media. A double-whammy is guaranteeing that at least one of those counterpunches will hit the target very hard.

This kind of stupidity only happens because it's paid for with OPM. Take the money away, these problems go away.
18 posted on 05/31/2023 11:24:16 PM PDT by rottndog (What comes after America?)
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To: SeekAndFind

I knew this was going to happen when the swamp weasels up in D.C. and all the other dopey states legalized drugs.


19 posted on 05/31/2023 11:28:18 PM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (JaySix - The attack that shook the foundations of Commie Liberal "democrazy". -The Far Left "media".)
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To: SeekAndFind

I am guilty of misgendering some nouns in Latin class. Fortunately there were no transgender nouns to deal with.


20 posted on 05/31/2023 11:33:59 PM PDT by windsorknot
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