We have seen cancel campaigns launched against figures like J.K. Rowling as TERFs. In this case, an artist was being invited to discuss her career rather than any aspect of transgender policies. The question is whether such ideological litmus tests are appropriate at institutions of higher education. The canceling of Paley is reminiscent of MIT cancelling a lecture of a leading University of Chicago geologist because he criticized Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs.
Wadhwa reportedly declared that “we at Northeastern University stand for inclusion and diversity. We stand against your stance with TERF as expressed on your website and will therefore have to cancel our lecture today and withdraw this invitation.”
Paley went public with the decision and analogized it to “Charlie Brown trying to kick Lucy’s football.”
“Today I was supposed to speak to an animation class via video. College I’d never heard of, teacher I’d never heard of, small thing, figured they knew who I was. Made plans, blocked space in my calendar. Barely an hour before I’m supposed to log onto their zoom link, I get this . . . I will never accept another speaking invitation unless they promise not to do this. Every time I think, ‘good, they don’t care, it’s blown over,’ and EVERY TIME this happens.”
Paley has been a critic of transgender ideology since 2017 and posted this explanation:
“A few years ago, when I shared this article about Caitlyn Jenner and another one about Rachel Dolezal, many angry liberal friends called me “transphobic,” and told me to “educate myself.” They apparently didn’t know I had spent many years deeply involved in various queer scenes in San Francisco, and had trans friends, and was gender dysphoric myself (it resolved in my mid-20’s, which is not unusual.) Since I couldn’t “educate myself” much more on trans people and queer theory, I considered what I really hadn’t educated myself about: radical feminism. Like everyone else, I had been denouncing “TERF“s without reading anything they’d written. So I started reading, and quickly realized I was a gender-critical radical feminist. (If you’re wondering why, I suggest you “educate yourself” about radical feminism. This video is a good place to start.)”
Again, from a free speech perspective, the issue is not the merits but the defense of the diversity of viewpoints needed in higher education. Many of us would have the same objection to a pro-transgender artist being cancelled, though that is far less likely in today’s academic environment.