Despite a controversy over freedom of speech involving prominent gay rights activist Peter Tatchell, an event geared towards challenging prejudice against LGBT people will proceed as planned. The organisers of a talk at Canterbury Christ Church University expressed disappointment on 13 February after the National Union of Students’ (NUS) LGBT representative, Fran Cowling, withdrew from the event. Cowling accused Tatchell of racism and transphobia, stating that she did not wish to share a stage with him. In an email to the event’s organisers, Cowling referred to Tatchell’s signing of an open letter that had appeared in the Observer, railing against the growing trend for universities to suppress views that contradict their own. Cowling claimed that this constituted support for transphobic individuals. Although organisers noted that there had been no other objections to Tatchell’s participation, neither Cowling nor the NUS was willing to explain her allegations further, when asked by The Guardian.
The event is intended to foster debate on whether the best path forward for the LGBT community is reform and equality, or social transformation. Other speakers planned for the event, such as Sue Sanders, co-chair of Schools Out and organiser of LGBT History Month, stated that they intended to share a platform with Tatchell and expressed confusion and concern over Cowling’s allegations. Professor Bee Scherer of Queer Paradigms, who will also be speaking at the event, remarked that she disagreed with the NUS, and expressed concern about the difference between a trans ally with a different opinion on freedom of speech and somebody who was transphobic. Tatchell also argued that Cowling had the right to refuse to speak on the same platform, but not to accuse him without evidence of wrongdoing. Organiser John Gilmore expressed disappointment that the NUS had refused to come and attend the discussion concerning “re-radicalising queers”.
