A controversial piece of federal legislation is making its way through Parliament and has a lot of people worked into quite the tizzy. Bill C-16 is a bill that aims to make discrimination based on gender identity and gender expression a criminal offence.
Jordan Peterson, a clinical psychologist and professor at the University of Toronto, has spoken out publicly about his opposition to this bill. Not because he wants to keep transgender people down or oppress them further, but because he recognizes how dangerous legislation that limits free speech can be.
He has been both hailed by the court of public opinion, and shamed by the two sides of the debate. But the disturbing trend is the rhetoric surrounding his opposition. He has posted hundreds of hours of commentary on his YouTube channel about Bill C-16 in hopes of drawing attention to its unintended but very real consequences.
Essentially, he believes that while it is good manners to adhere to someone's gender pronoun preference, making refusal to do so a criminal offence creates a slippery slope.
I recently watched a cellphone video that was uploaded to YouTube by a U of T student who identifies as transgender confronting Peterson about his views. The person behind the camera began their verbal barrage by asking Peterson how he feels about the presence of white supremacists at one of his rallies.
What kind of a question is that to ask someone? First of all, it has no relevance to the discussion of the topic at hand – Bill C-16. Secondly, the purpose of a rally is to have the public gather in support of a person or idea.
So what control does the student believe he has to keep “undesirable” people out? Should attendees of public rallies be vetted for unpopular beliefs before they're allowed entrance? What would that do to democracy and the free exchange of ideas in our great nation? What do white supremacists have to do with gender politics?
There will always be controversial legislation, but we should all try to remember the old proverb that you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.
In 1906 Evelyn Beatrice Hall wrote The Friends of Voltaire, outlining the famous philosopher's beliefs. I would like to leave you with her immortal words and Voltaire's immortal idea – “I disapprove of what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”
