Tuesday, June 10, 2014



U. Chicago Students Go Ballistic After Dan Savage Says 'Tranny'

Well known gay author and advice columnist Dan Savage recently spoke at a University of Chicago Institute of Politics seminar. Some students who attended the event denounced him for repeatedly using the word "tranny," which made one transgender person in the audience feel uncomfortable and "unsafe." According to The Chicago Maroon:

The incident occurred when, according to several sources, Savage and [IOP fellow Ana Marie Cox] began discussing his personal history as a gay man. According to a first-year student and member of the LGBTQ community who asked to be identified as Hex, Savage used the slur t—– as an example in an anecdote about reclaiming words. Cox then added, "I used to make jokes about t—-ies," audience members recounted.

In a statement, the IOP said, "A guest used language that provoked a spirited debate. The speaker was discussing how hurtful words can be repurposed and used to empower; at no point did he direct any slurs at anyone."

Nevertheless, an activist started a Change.org petition to pressure IOP to issue some sort of condemnation of Savage. The petition also demanded that the University of Chicago vigorously police usage of "hate speech" in the future.

Ironically, Savage's entire purpose for bringing up the word was to discuss strategies for overcoming its negative and hurtful associations.

SOURCE



9 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love it when they eat their own!

Anonymous said...

I don't remember anywhere in the constitution where you have the right to not have your fragile little feeling hurt and you are protected from feeling "uncomfortable!"

What a bunch of over sensitive pussies!

Anonymous said...

So “unsafe” is the new standard??? Perception is not reality and rude speech while offensive to some is not actionable unless you cannot remove yourself from the situation. But online petitions are generally as meaningful as rude speech and both are just opinions. The reason liberal online petitions outnumber their conservative counterparts several to one is conservative actually work on issues rather that hoping others will.

MDH

Dean said...

Just hearing the word made him feel unsafe? I can use that.

The next time someone says I'm racist because of my opinion of President Obama's policies I'll tell them that makes me feel threatened and unsafe.

Actually if my opinion off the president was voiced on a college campus I probably would be unsafe.

Anonymous said...

It's not about hurt feelings or being unsafe. It's about using it to obtain more power. That's why there's always a demand for "policing of "hate speech' " (meaning censorship of views with which they don't agree), education outreach for students (meaning cultural reprograming), or money for their groups.

Go Away Bird said...

FEELINGS NOTHING MORE THEN FEELINGS Hey anyone remember that song?

Anonymous said...

Solution to problem? More guns.

Jub Jub Bird said...

Collage intellectuals ask them to name the founding fathers and watch them go all blank-eyed with their mouths in little O shaped and sputring like a broken down engine

Anonymous said...

Here's a suggestion: don't go to lectures at universities, churches, or anywhere else. Just sit in your room with your hands over your ears so you won't hear anything offensive.