Murphy's Ideals Do Belong In The Library: The Fiction Section By Cameron Sutcliffe
- gfessnews
- Nov 8, 2019
- 3 min read
The Meghan Murphy Controversy: Why the Toronto Public Library should not present a forum for potential hate speech
While digging through the day’s news I came across an article written in the National Post regarding the Toronto Public Library and a woman named Meghan Murphy. You may have heard of her, or more specifically of her role in the promotion of transphobia. Murphy, who runs the website “Feminist Current”, has rigorously protested and condemned the idea of transgender women, existing slyly under the guise of a supporter for “Human rights for all”. This, of course, coming after her harsh words implying that transgender women infringe on the rights of what we can only assume she considers to be “real” women. Murphy can also be seen opposing Bill C-16, a crucial part of the human rights movement that criminalizes any act of discrimination against gender identity and expression.
So what’s Toronto got to do with it? As it happens, Toronto Public Library has decided, in what appears to be a very easy decision on their part, to allow Ms. Murphy to attend as a third-party presentation, allowing her to stand in front of a crowd of potentially easily-influenced children, and promote her hate towards gender expression. It seems, despite the voices of over 2,500 concerned citizens via an online petition, and even a public discord with Mayor John Tory, Toronto Public Library stands adamant in it’s unconventional approach to supporting “freedom of speech”, coming to a library near you on October 29th.
As the odds would have it, this isn’t the first time Toronto Public Library has treaded on the line of what is moral to provide a platform for. Back in 2017, a memorial was permitted for Barbara Kulaszka, a lawyer who passed away in June of that year. Kulaszka, who defended and supported Neo-Nazi groups and Holocaust denyers such as Ernst Zundel, was widely reverred by the Neo-Nazi and White Nationalist movements as a supporter. And even when Holocaust survivors contacted the Library Board, pleading for them to somehow see reason in the midst of their booking of this event, the Library ignored all efforts and continued on.
In today’s society, differing opinions are common as ever. And rightfully so, as a country has no way to evolve and grow as a nation without multiple views. That being said, in the case of public figures such as Megan Murphy, it becomes immensely important to clarify the innate difference between disagreement and hatred. And to her credit, Murphy has, though seemingly lacking basic morals and instead choosing to lean on the side of oppression and bigotry rather than simple dissimilitude. Being seen frequently laughing in the face of the transgender community’s attempt to express themselves in the way they feel most comfortable, Murphy is also quoted saying the following:
“I’m not sure about this idea of gender dysphoria...if they do feel like that then that’s a mental illness problem...these people are mentally ill, clearly… I don’t know why that’s construed as a particular, like, egregious thing to say.”
- On The Brendan O’Neill Show
“Treating gender is if it is either internal or a personal choice is dangerous, and completely misunderstands how and why women are oppressed...the rights of women and girls are being pushed aside to accommodate a trend.”
- Regarding Ms. Murphy’s opinion against Bill C-16
As someone who has previously worked in a public library for close to three years, I can tell you this is not something that any community-serving establishment should even consider endorsing. In a place where people come together to interact with one another and raise their children, Meghan Murphy has no place tarnishing the idea of harmony between humankind. If a library can ban a list of books every year, then they absolutely have the authority to ban hate speech.
Comments