Yes indeed “Trans Rights” like many of the rights and freedoms in Canada are rights to be cherished and protected.
Also as a father of a Trans-daughter I have given this and related subjects much thought in recent years.
Regardless of what is actually written into the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms there are several assumed rights and freedoms most Canadians perceive to be theirs such as Freedom of assembly and Freedom of speech.
All of these above mentioned, so called “Freedoms” were challenged and hotly debated on Oct. 10 2019 at The HUB Community Space in Victoria and on social media, when (despite extreme opposition) a presentation by controversial, trans-gender speaker Jenn Smith went ahead regardless of the all-out attempt to shut down this event.
Community
While observing all of this in the past days, the vision of the The HUB Community Space itself has been repeatedly brought into question by some, including some in authority.
The idea that this grass roots, no-budget, free space is not actually building or promoting community is beyond ridiculous.
The Jenn Smith speaking engagement on Oct. 10th 2019 aside, It must be pointed out that this highly successful, adlib, volunteer run, unplanned, and unfunded community center has (in its short time) been host to, but not limited to…..
-environmental groups
-book clubs
-Book Launch
-non-profit Annual General Meetings for Non-Profits
-a First Nations Beading Club
-Meetings for Playwrights
-Regular support sessions for Female Immigrants and refugees
-Theater Rehearsals
-Creative Art Studio Access
-Art Gallery (where artists can display their art for free)
-Regular Co-working Office Space (volunteer staffed and open to all, for free, twice a week)
-Local University Geography Classes
-Substance Recovery Peer support Group with Regular Drop-in access
-Yoga Sessions
– Media Club
-Music Rehearsals
…..And WOW….. what a list…. Is this not community?
…..And what about the 25 brave souls who walked the gauntlet of foul mouthed screaming protesters? 25 persons determined to attend the Oct 10th. Jenn Smith event at The HUB Community Space? Are they not a part of the “Community”
To clarify, The HUB Community Space does not have an agenda to advocate or oppose socio-political views of individuals or groups. The HUB Community Space does support freedom of assembly and freedom of speech.
The apparent recent erosion of these freedoms, in connection with other local “community centers” in the Victoria area, is what has gained the attention of this Director in this case.
( See also this… https://torontopubliclibrary.typepad.com/news_releases/ )
FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY AND THE NEED FOR POLICE PROTECTION
Regardless of where one stands on the issues raised by outspoken trans-gender speaker Jenn Smith, it is clear that a strong police presence being needed to protect life and property from the protesters gathered on public land adjacent to a private, quiet and peaceful event for 25 persons, is wholly unreasonable. It is certainly not the responsibility or fault of those who gathered to hear the presentation.
In addition, it seems clear that some influential persons in the community have greatly contributed to the “hate” and hypocritical intolerance towards this speaker that prevails at this time.
Seen here is an extremely homophobic social media post from BC-NDP Vice President Morgane Oger who surprisingly also identifies as Trans-gender.
As Director of The HUB Community Space in downtown Victoria, veiled and not so veiled threats came to me personally via emails, messages, and social media posts in the few days and hours leading up to this unscheduled, last minute speakers event at The HUB.
The violence and angry foul language used to shut down a previous Jenn Smith event, in the nearby municipality of Oak Bay, was a horrific attack on freedom of speech and freedom of assembly, to be sure.
Seen here is an independently produced recount of the recent events in OAK BAY…
It is clear to me now that the negligent lack of local law enforcement, at the previous Oak Bay event, was greatly contrasted on Oct. 10th. The amazing efforts of the Victoria Police Dept.,who contacted me personally, prior to the event at The HUB Community Space were admirable. They assured me that The HUB’s right to freedom of assembly and that of the protesters outside would be protected.
Here are but a few examples of disturbing posts received by The HUB Community Space directed towards speaker Jenn Smith in the hours leading up to this event ….
-Lynd-zee Loo Why must we be ‘calm’ and ‘reasonable’……
-Ahron Francis Balatti0:00 Free speech, bitch……
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Seeking comment From Jen Smith after his Oct. 10th presentation at The HUB Community Space he directed me to this post….
Jenn Smith · 9:53 I know at least two people that stayed away because they did not want to go into the mob, there may have been more. This was a little more intimidating than previous gatherings because of the limited space on the sidewalk out front.
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To be fair, as Director of The HUB Community Space, I invited School Board Trustee and anti-Jenn Smith activist Ryan Painter to discuss or debate gender issues at The HUB Community Space on Oct. 10th 2019 in a manner taught to me by our amazing and current Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps. That is of course, the method of “Civil Discourse.” Mr. Painter refused with the rhetorical and ideological line that these issues were “not up for debate.”
This brings me to the next topic…..
JENN SMITH AND HIS NEED FOR PERSONAL PROTECTION
As seen in the above link from the aforementioned “Oak Bay” event, the Oak Bay police had failed to keep the peace during this event. This caused the freedom of assembly to be unprotected. In the end, Oak Bay police were forced to provide protection for Jenn Smith, as they escorted him through what can rightly be called a threatening mob of activists.
The circumstances at the Oak Bay event and those of the event hosted at The HUB Community Space, have reasonably caused Jenn Smith to fear for his safety while exercising his right to freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of speech. Ironically this fear has been created by a radical, and extremist movement that claims to be one of inclusion and tolerance.
Due to this fear of personal safety, and lack of funding, it seems Jenn Smith has given in to allowing unvetted, volunteer security escorts at public events. This is where I have made some additional and disturbing observations.
I have gone to great lengths, and paid a great personal price for allowing this event at The HUB Community Space to take place. I needed to get to the bottom of the actual reasons why this so called “controversial speaker” has been banned from local community centers, and the ongoing rhetoric that Jenn Smith is linked up with neo-nazis and white supremacists. (A repugnant thing, if true)
To be fair, if the threatening mob had not caused Jenn Smith’s rights and safety to be violated, I submit that no security measures would have been necessary. I place the blame for the need of security squarely on the unruly protesters gathered at these events.
That said, I must now focus on the individual who approached Jenn Smith at the last minute to volunteer as his security escort for the event on Oct.10th.
Despite Jenn Smith’s attempts to control this volunteer during his presentation, this individual was disruptive during the actual discussion, as the other 24 persons present attempted to have a civil discourse.
This so-called “security escort” was certainly annoying, with his physical stance and verbal outbursts towards the attendees, who attempted to debate reasonably and discuss the issues. A sad commentary that Jenn Smith must depend on un-vetted individuals for security due to his lack of funding and the threatening mob outside.
While Jenn Smiths messages on freedom of speech and assembly during this presentation did in fact resonate with me personally, I found this situation with his volunteer “security person” one of the minor regrets of this event.
I offer my sincere apology to the one woman who became upset and left the event due to this individual , despite several of those in attendance encouraging her to stay.
Jenn Smith offered me an unsolicited and heartfelt apology for the behavior of his unvetted and seemingly untrained security escort and I absolutely accepted this apology.
It seems Jenn Smith himself is a compassionate individual capable of “civil discourse” but falls victim to the need for someone tough enough to escort him in and out of tiny, peaceful events that are made hostile by an anti-free speech crowd of protesters.
Biased Media Reporting?
Despite the biased and incorrect reporting from local media that 10 or so folks attended Jenn Smiths “anti-trans” presentation at The HUB Community Space, the actual count (reduced by mob intimidation) was in fact 25. This included families, children, the elderly, and members of the LGBTQ community as well. (A diverse attendance to be sure)
This dispute of ‘numbers in attendance’ is reminiscent of American, petty, main stream media disputes over how many folks attended Obama and Trump Presidential inaugurations as if numbers in attendance proved right and wrong.
Despite local media reporting that Jenn Smith (who identifies as Trans-gender) is “anti-trans gender”, this is most certainly not the case, and in fact (according to Jenn Smith) a libelous statement.
Having attended the presentation by Jenn Smith with other critically minded folks, I can state that the presentation was certainly not “anti-trans” in any way.
There were no “neo-nazi” groups present.
No “hate speech” was included in this presentation.
Protesters swarm Fort Street to challenge anti-trans speaker
Political and Ideological Interference
Much more disturbing is the apparent, political and ideological attempts to interfere with the right to peaceful assembly in this case.
It was never my intention to involve Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps in this free speech exercise but unfortunately she has seen fit to directly involve herself.
Those who know the true history of The HUB Community Space are aware that I personally have long been one of Mayor Helps biggest fans and I have spent many an hour in recent years defending her on social media.
Mayor Helps invited me, long before the past 2018 civic election, to participate in closed meetings to help create her 2018 election platform.
I served as her volunteer sign co-ordinator during the election campaign.
Mayor Helps picked vegetables in my garden and I wrote and published supportively in her favor on my amateur blog.
https://insidevictoria.wordpress.com/2018/09/30/helping-helps/
Mayor Helps even came to my home and cut the ribbon on Victoria’s 150th little free library box that I built and installed in front of my house.
All that said, Mayor Lisa Helps apparent political or ideological concern regarding this Jenn Smith presentation on Oct.10th did not grant me the consideration of a simple inquiry from her. Instead it seems that Mayor Helps chose to work with those opposed to this free speech, in finding ways to shut down the event, and deny The HUB Community Space the freedom of peaceful assembly that any citizen should take for granted.
I will not be presenting here the emails and social media posts that have brought me to this conclusion but I do invite Mayor Helps to discuss this with me privately and clarify any possible misconceptions.
The ideological interference from specific individuals in the community knew no bounds, as an organized effort to shut down this event gained momentum. (As if Jenn Smith was Hitler himself.)
Employees and officials from all quarters were contacted and harassed into joining the effort. Despite having just recently completed a fire safety inspection of The HUB Community Space, we received an unscheduled, high ranking fire inspection the day of the event. Some in authority over me personally applied pressure to cancel this event. Clearly they don’t really know me as I only became more determined to protect the rights presented in this article’s introduction.
It must be noted that it was in fact this ongoing opposition to Jenn Smith’s right to peaceful assembly that caught my attention in the first place, and in turn caused me to consider hosting this speaking event.
I submit that had the Anti-Jenn Smith crowd simply left this speaker alone, I would never have heard of him.
It is this violent and organized opposition to him that actually provides the platform and popularizes or advertises his events.
In conclusion of this section of my report, I will remind readers that two elected Victoria City Councillors attended the event in Oak Bay. They lent support to the illegal mob that shut down Jenn Smith speaking, despite the clear declaration from Oak Bay Mayor Kevin Murdoch, prior to the event, that no Hate speech was contained in that presentation.
Personal Commentary
The ideological opposition to the Oak Bay event and the event at The HUB Community Space on Oct. 10th seems no different from any other anti-something hate filled movement as they screamed “murderer” and other hate filled, foul language that I will not repeat here.
Indeed some (but not all) of a historically bullied and denigrated portion of our community seems now to have themselves become the bullies.
According to a recent, Anti-Jenn Smith Facebook post I received “The textbook definition of bullying is the repeated use of force, coercion, or threat, to abuse, aggressively dominate or intimidate others.” Oh the irony!
When reading the following quotes posted on social media by anti-Jenn Smith activists, pay close attention to the hypocritical narrative that the LGBTQ community normally and rightfully abhors, because the denying of one’s preferred identity is the biggest insult of all.
Dianne Phillips · Jenn Smith ……… You were so desperate to belong you started dressing as one of the popular girls in school. …..
None, right?
Dianne Phillips · …… “Jenn Smith” isn’t transgender! He’s just a guy with mental health issues…..
Patrick Gleeson ….. it doesn’t matter that he’s trans…….
With Apologies to the reader, I have to insert this one a second time because WOW!
Slander, Libel and Abuse
Also of note was the libelous commentary and outright lies posted on social media.
For some time now it seems Jenn Smith has been called a neo-nazi and the like. Among the most ironic was the comments that this person who identifies as Trans-gender is “anti-trans” or a “bigot”.
Not only did I find no evidence of this anti-trans gender claim, it seems this mob mentality has now begun to be directed at me personally as Senior Director of The HUB Community Space with attacks and effort to deny rights and freedoms.
All within hours of Jenn Smith announcing his event at The HUB Community Space I was being called an anti-First Nations bigot and have been erroneously linked to those opposed to the removal of the Sir John A Macdonald statue in Victoria. (Interesting statements, given that I infact, am a First Nations person whose grandmother suffered in residential schools. I was personally present and discussed the removal of the Mcdonald statue, with our Victoria Mayor herself, the night before its removal as I tried to assure her that she was “extremely brave” in standing up for local First Nations.)
Here are a few examples of erroneous posts received on The HUB Community Space Facebook page for which I see no evidence.
Jay Ayr0:11 ………these organizations made up of supposedly adults repeatedly attempt to intimidate the LGBTQ2+ community either with mockery, threats of physical violence, or actually engaging in violent tactics for the purposes of intimidating marginalized people to fall in line………
Hannah Hickli0:23 Your willingness to propagate hate and cause harm is disgusting. May you never know peace……
Morgan J Moriarty The HUB, Victoria Community Space Fascism disguised by thoughts and prayers, Blackwood.
Mya Ceilidh Wilson You should be ashamed of yourself. You, and your business practice REEK of wounding, and hatred.
Mark Swarek Please don’t join. This “community center” supports hate speech.
Violet N Brown Thanks for being so homophobic and transphobic. You guys really know how to be supportive to peoples rights and lead a great example to the community of satanic red necks and low life’s. Way to go 💩🔥
Josie Aileen Patterson Platforming this particular brand of hateful, bigoted, ignorant, purposely misrepresented rhetoric is not only dangerous, it’s downright disgusting.
Teyah Sweeney The HUB, Victoria Community Space You’re a fucking retard. ……….. You’re gonna start a fucking riot.
Jay Ayr ……….. alt-right snowflakes
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
In contrast, It is quite evident that a large portion of our “community” does not agree with this Anti-Jenn Smith movement.
Seen below is some examples of the love and support received by The HUB Community Space with regards to the last minute and unscheduled speaking event on Oct. 10th 2019.
Zoe Rae To add… I have been to Jenn’s talk, with my LGBT daughter and we both quite enjoyed it. We each had parts we didn’t agree with but there certainly wasn’t anything hateful. In fact, quite the opposite. There was tons of love and concern for kids coming from not only Jenn, but the audience as well
S.J. Martin I’m proud of you for not backing down
Dave Hutchings · 15:47 Thx to the HUB
Tina Jones · 27:03 THANK YOU The Hub Victoria #SpeechFreedom #ThoughtFreedom #BeliefFreedom #ExpressionFreedom
Christian Michael McCay · 49:51 Thank-you Jenn Smith for your commitment to exposing the truth!
Kira M Kelly Ya cuz I like to think for myself and make up my own mind!
Tina Jones thanx! …… Jenn Smith did great 💜
Jessy Renney · 45:30 Respect to the people who are there to hear Jenn ……
Jon D McCormack3:52 ……..Jenn is not the only one to speak out about these issues, being a transperson
Josh Steffler so you are standing up for Jenn Smith‘s rights to speak, good on you!!
Sue Brasset Where are the protesters of children and women? Where is free speech. Just because you and I have different ideas and opinions does not mean we cannot express those ideas and opinions
Jeanette Standerwick …………... I have personally heard Jenn Smith . There is no hate
Priya Reddy It’s a good idea. Make sure it’s clear as possible that the threat to public safety is coming from trans extremists not your alleged hate speech
Zoe Rae As the mother of two LGBT kids, my whole family is thankful to you for standing up for free speech. Not all LGBT people agree with these extremists or that discussing ideas openly equals hate. You are showing true diversity by allowing diversity of thought. Within my own household we do not all agree on all matters but we certainly don’t slander, attack or threaten each other over these differences. We try to understand or agree to disagree. Thank you for standing up to the bullies!
Ian Stewart ………… Thank you for standing against censorship!
Sue Brasset …… agreed. We all have a responsibility to get to the facts and we all have should have freedom to research facts for ourselves. Freedom of speech is being assaulted on many fronts these days and we must fight with integrity
Ana Hesse Keep up the good work HUB. Freedom of Speech is a right worth protecting.
Mika Repat recommends The HUB, Victoria Community Space.
Thanks for having Jenn Smith speak. Voices need to be heard speaking truths. There is nothing hateful being said by Jenn.
Ella Josten0:00 Well done HUB for hosting Jenn. You are on the right side
Ella Josten0:00 …….. Absolutely correct that Jenn is not the only trans person to speak out……..
Jeanette Standerwick posted ….. “thank goodness there are still people that stand for free speech”
In Conclusion
A personal story…..
As a former Director of a local tenant action group in Victoria I was present more than a year ago (post meeting) when a fellow director who identifies as “lesbian” told the story of her partners poetry recital that once upon a time had taken place in a gay bar.
She explained that the audience was “just gay men over 50” and therefore was “incapable of appreciating the poetry” and was “undeserving” of the effort. The derogatory theme of the story related towards a specific segment of the LGBTQ community was accually insulting to me personally as an over 50s hetro-male and the hypocrisy of those statements have been difficult to put aside in my mind.
This person also attempted to remove my power to assign the female gender to my tiny female dog (Princess Chica) when she questioned my calling Chica “My pretty pretty princess” this person asked with purpose “have you asked Chica how she identifies?”
I strongly urge the radical segments of the LGBTQ community to examine their own actions so as not to diminish the rights and freedoms of anyone in our community that YOU have fought to gain for so long.
Peace and Love to All
See also this article written by a Trans identified person……
https://www.rt.com/op-ed/471025-trans-woman-woke-too-far/
Barrett R Blackwood – Director The HUB Community Space
