In the wake of protests against a Toronto event featuring a controversial Vancouver speaker whose views have been criticized as transphobic, SFU has announced that a similar event to be held in Vancouver has been cancelled.

A sold-out event entitled “How media bias shapes the gender identity debate” was scheduled to be held on November 2 at SFU Harbour Centre in Vancouver.

Organized by SFU anthropology professor Mark Collard, the event was slated to feature a panel discussion featuring Post Millennial writer Anna Slatz, Quillette editor Jonathan Kay, free-speech advocate Lindsay Shepherd, and Feminist Current founder Meghan Murphy.

Murphy has repeatedly sparked concerns and criticism due to her views about trans people and gender identity that critics have called transphobic.  

Outcry and concerns about the event arose from students and faculty, including from SFU’s gender, sexuality, and women’s studies department.

In response, SFU academic vice-president and Provost Jon Driver issued a statement to explain that the university is permitting the event to proceed on the basis of free speech, even if they do not endorse all viewpoints.

A protest against the event was scheduled to be held simultaneously.

However, last night (October 31), SFU issued a statement that the sponsor of the event has “decided to cancel the event for security reasons” and that the event won't be held at SFU.

https://twitter.com/SFU/status/1190109649065926656

Earlier this week, a sold-out event featuring Murphy at the Toronto Public Library on October 29 sparked backlash and criticism, including from Toronto Mayor John Tory, and a protest, which drew hundreds of people, was held concurrently.

As a result, Toronto city council will be reviewing its policy regarding use of its community spaces.

The Vancouver Public Library (VPL) also permitted a panel discussion that included Murphy to proceed in January for the same reasons as the TPL. In addition to criticim, protests, and counter-events, the Vancouver Pride Society rejected the VPL’s application to participate in the 2019 Vancouver Pride parade.