The ongoing debate over free speech and hate speech about sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) issues may have another flashpoint in the Lower Mainland this weekend.

Anti–SOGI activist Jenn Smith (who identifies as a transgender male and uses male pronouns but is against "transgender ideology") is continuing his speaking tour across British Columbia, one that has been met with repeated controversy.

As Smith appeared at speaking engagements on Vancouver Island, LGBT activists and allies organized protests, due to concerns about Smith’s opinions about transgender people and issues.

In Metro Vancouver, two post-secondary institutions—Langley’s Christian-based Trinity Western University and New Westminster’s Douglas College—cancelled Smith’s booking due to concerns about the content of his talks.

However, the University of British Columbia allowed Smith’s event to proceed at its Point Grey campus in Vancouver on the basis of free speech, despite reservations about the content.

Due to UBC’s permission of the event to be held, the Vancouver Pride Society (VPS) rejected UBC’s application to march in the 2019 Vancouver Pride parade, as they deem Smith’s content to be “hate speech”.

The VPS will be meeting with UBC about its booking policy in September.

Smith’s event, entitled “The Erosion of Freedom: How Transgender Politics in School and Society is Undermining Our Freedom and Harming Women and Children” and co-sponsored by the Canadian Christian Lobby, will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Sunday (August 18) at the Abbotsford Social Activity Association (33889 Essendene Avenue).

An event webpage for a protest, to start at 5 p.m. and run simultaneously as Smith’s event, was posted earlier this week.