5 Comments

I don't see the progression from being critical of a curriculum, to being bigoted and transphobic.

Expand full comment
author

Here's a good test: when your 'criticisms of a curriculum' lead you to make claims about child abuse, you're probably being transphobic.

Expand full comment

Thank goodness some us still trust our legal systems

Expand full comment

I am not a legal scholar, but I don't understand how a judge can adjudicate a defamation case and not be influenced by his values regarding the speech in question. In this case, Hansman did defame Neufeld if his speech was not transphobic. But, clearly, whether or not you think being in favour of family values or "calling into question the socially constructed nature of gender" is transphobic depends on your values.

Expand full comment
author

Fair comment as a defence does not require proof that a statement was true, only that it is a fair opinion in light of the public interest of the speech at issue. In other words, calling someone's transphobic can indeed be in the eye of the beholder, and that doesn't make it defamatory.

Expand full comment