The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (jccf.ca) has written to the Chief Librarian of the Vancouver Public Library (VPL), commending the library for its decision to hold a public event on gender identity, featuring Canadian feminist Meghan Murphy, psychologist Dr. Kenneth Zucker, and Dagny, a de-transitioned woman who regrets taking testosterone to transition to a male identity.
The event, “GIDYVR Still Talking Series: Gender Identity and Kids”, a panel discussion which takes place on March 21, 2020, has already come under external pressure from some activists.
The Justice Centre commends VPL for rightly identifying the importance of freedom of expression as a core principle of democracy.
In a public statement, the Library noted that as a public body, it is “expected to act in accordance with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which includes the right to freedom of expression.”
Jay Cameron, Justice Centre Litigation Manager, notes, “The decision of the library to uphold free speech is essential to a democratic society. This protects and benefits the constitutional rights of all Canadians.”
