The balance between free speech and ethical speech
In response to Chapter 5 of The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling and transphobic rhetoric
I am directing this at people who have ever been accused of being a “TERF.” If you think I’ve missed something important by the time you get to the end, if you are not convinced that I’m correct in my positions, please head to the comments section and tell me why (after reading to the end), if you can spare the time and energy. I would appreciate the insight into your perspectives.
I believe free speech is essential to democracy and social progress. I believe any idea which affects all people needs to be workshopped in the public sphere. Especially if something is socially constructed, it needs to be constructed democratically.
But “democratically” doesn’t mean that everyone’s opinions get an equal vote for the same reason that we don’t consult forestry scientists on how to build a skyscraper. Democracy can still be apportioned according to relevance, rights, and expertise.
Regarding trans issues, trans people hold a lot of expertise in the topic of how sex definitions work on them, as individuals. It’s arguable that trans people hold the most expertise, overall, about sex and gender. But it’s also possible that some very psychologists might…
