Penn State officials, student groups denounce far-right speaker — but can’t stop campus appearance
A controversial right-wing personality tied to hate speech against various groups is set to speak on Penn State’s campus next week, drawing widespread condemnation from both the student body and university leaders.
Political commentator Milo Yiannopoulos — whom the Anti-Defamation League described as “a misogynistic, racist, xenophobic, transphobic troll” — will speak Nov. 3 at 101 Thomas Building on “free speech, faith, conversion therapy, hair style, and more,” according to the event’s webpage. In a written statement, university officials explained they are opposed to the event but cannot stop it due to the First Amendment.
The event’s tagline is “Pray the Gay Away” and is hosted by the student group Uncensored America, which was established last year.
“(Yiannopoulos’) past presentations on the nation’s college campuses have been antithetical to Penn State’s values, and we share the profound dismay others have already expressed in response to his forthcoming appearance here,” read a joint statement Monday night from three university officials in Steve Dunham, vice president and general counsel; Damon Sims, vice president for student affairs; and Marcus Whitehurst, vice provost for educational equity.
The statement continued: “Yet as offensive and hurtful as Yiannopoulos’ comments have been and are likely to be again, and despite our own abhorrence for such statements and the promotional tactics used, Uncensored America has the undeniable Constitutional right to sponsor this presentation on our campus. The university lacks the right to do anything to stop it.”
Yiannopoulos, former editor of far-right media outlet Breitbart News, has been no stranger to controversy. He was permanently banned from Twitter in 2016 after referring to Black comedian/actress Leslie Jones as a man and an ape, while orchestrating an abusive campaign against her. He was also banned from Facebook and Instagram three years later after the platforms labeled him “dangerous” for his promotion of hate speech and/or violence.
He was forced to resign from Breitbart in 2017 over remarks that appeared to condone sexual relationships between old men and boys as young as 13. (The American Conservative Union rescinded his invitation to to speak at CPAC over the controversy.) And the formerly openly gay commentator — who’s also been accused of being sympathetic to white nationalists — married his boyfriend in 2017 before announcing earlier this year that he is no longer gay.
He is now hoping to open a “conversion therapy” center in Florida, which seeks to change a person’s sexual orientation or identity. Conversion therapy is banned in 14 states, while dozens of national organizations — such as the American Medical Association — have denounced such practices.
In a joint statement Tuesday, University Park’s undergraduate student government and two LGBTQ groups “strongly condemned” Yiannopoulos’ appearance, saying it promotes homophobia on campus.
“Bigotry and discrimination have no place at Penn State, and the university must take the necessary steps to combat hate speech and protect the LGBTQIA+ community,” the statement read, before later continuing, “(Yiannopoulos’) presence serves as a threat to students on-campus, and the university should treat it as such.”
The statement, which called for the cancellation of the event, was signed by undergrad student government president Erin Boas and vice president Najee Rodriguez; co-presidents of Lion PRIDE Josh Bannon and Cydney Howard; and Celeste Good, president of Queer and Trans People of Color.
Uncensored America, the student group organizing the event, told the CDT in a written statement that it invited Yiannopoulos because he is the “ultimate free speech martyr.”
“The reaction to our event — with many demanding Penn State cancels it just because they don’t like Milo — proves we don’t live in an environment where people can truly speak freely,” the statement read. “We don’t live in a country where we can have an open conversation without fear of intimidation or censorship. We cannot grow and live in a better nation if we aren’t willing to discuss any issue from all sides.”
In a separate statement sent to the CDT, Lion PRIDE’s Bannon and Howard wrote that they understand the university is limited in what it can do due to the protection of free speech — but they lauded Penn State officials for speaking out. They also said they are currently working with PSU staff “to ensure the safety of all students, especially those who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community.”
Lion PRIDE and other organizations have also advertised a “Love is Louder” event on the same night as Yiannopoulos’ speech. That event will take place at Heritage Hall from 6-10 p.m., while the speech will start at 8 p.m.
Despite the backlash, university officials remained adamant they could not prevent Yiannopoulos’ event from happening.
“As a public university, we are fundamentally and unalterably obligated under the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment to protect various expressive rights, even for those whose viewpoints offend our basic institutional values,” the university’s joint statement read.
“To do otherwise not only violates the Constitution, but would undermine the basic freedom each of us shares to generally think and express ourselves as we wish. ... But let us be clear. At his core, Yiannopoulos is a social provocateur — a personality whose central public purpose is to deliberately create controversy, hurt and disruption. That is something we all should recognize.”
This story was originally published October 26, 2021 at 2:41 PM.
