sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me
words will never hurt me
words will never hurt me you remember the old children’s parable
you remember the old children’s parable
you remember the old children’s parable it has a nice ring to it but it’s not
it has a nice ring to it but it’s not
it has a nice ring to it but it’s not really accurate is it words can actually
really accurate is it words can actually
really accurate is it words can actually be quite hurtful I know I’ve been hurt
be quite hurtful I know I’ve been hurt
be quite hurtful I know I’ve been hurt by them can you hear me is there okay I
by them can you hear me is there okay I
by them can you hear me is there okay I give you some echo I’m sorry I know I’ve
give you some echo I’m sorry I know I’ve
give you some echo I’m sorry I know I’ve been hurt by words and in fact there was
been hurt by words and in fact there was
been hurt by words and in fact there was a moment here on this campus when I was
a moment here on this campus when I was
a moment here on this campus when I was very much hurt by words fifteen years
very much hurt by words fifteen years
very much hurt by words fifteen years ago I was a bright-eyed bushy-tailed
ago I was a bright-eyed bushy-tailed
ago I was a bright-eyed bushy-tailed freshman here at Yale University when a
freshman here at Yale University when a
freshman here at Yale University when a group of students invited the late
group of students invited the late
group of students invited the late amiri baraka to come speak at Yale now
amiri baraka to come speak at Yale now
amiri baraka to come speak at Yale now Baraka was a famous playwright but he
Baraka was a famous playwright but he
Baraka was a famous playwright but he had become rather notorious in his later
had become rather notorious in his later
had become rather notorious in his later years because he had written a poem
years because he had written a poem
years because he had written a poem about 9/11 entitled somebody blew up
about 9/11 entitled somebody blew up
about 9/11 entitled somebody blew up America in which he claimed that the
America in which he claimed that the
America in which he claimed that the Prime Minister of Israel had somehow
Prime Minister of Israel had somehow
Prime Minister of Israel had somehow told 4000 Israelis in New York not to
told 4000 Israelis in New York not to
told 4000 Israelis in New York not to show up for work that day at the Twin
show up for work that day at the Twin
show up for work that day at the Twin Towers
Towers
Towers now this accusation that the Jewish
now this accusation that the Jewish
now this accusation that the Jewish state somehow had some sort of
state somehow had some sort of
state somehow had some sort of foreknowledge about the worst terrorist
foreknowledge about the worst terrorist
foreknowledge about the worst terrorist attack on American soil and had
attack on American soil and had
attack on American soil and had furthermore withheld that information
furthermore withheld that information
furthermore withheld that information from the world in order to provoke some
from the world in order to provoke some
from the world in order to provoke some sort of civilizational war in the Middle
sort of civilizational war in the Middle
sort of civilizational war in the Middle East was a pretty clear-cut case of
East was a pretty clear-cut case of
East was a pretty clear-cut case of conspiratorial anti-semitism now
conspiratorial anti-semitism now
conspiratorial anti-semitism now naturally many people were upset by the
naturally many people were upset by the
naturally many people were upset by the decision to host Baraka here at Yale not
decision to host Baraka here at Yale not
decision to host Baraka here at Yale not least the Jewish community and as a 19
least the Jewish community and as a 19
least the Jewish community and as a 19 year old Jewish freshman from the
year old Jewish freshman from the
year old Jewish freshman from the suburbs of Boston whose only real
suburbs of Boston whose only real
suburbs of Boston whose only real experience of anti-semitism had maybe
experience of anti-semitism had maybe
experience of anti-semitism had maybe been some teasing and an elementary
been some teasing and an elementary
been some teasing and an elementary school for not celebrating Christmas I
school for not celebrating Christmas I
school for not celebrating Christmas I wasn’t really prepared to deal with a
wasn’t really prepared to deal with a
wasn’t really prepared to deal with a moment like this was someone like this
moment like this was someone like this
moment like this was someone like this being invited to campus now in
being invited to campus now in
being invited to campus now in retrospect reflecting on how often
retrospect reflecting on how often
retrospect reflecting on how often campus speakers on at colleges and
campus speakers on at colleges and
campus speakers on at colleges and universities are protested by students
universities are protested by students
universities are protested by students or their talks are completely shut down
or their talks are completely shut down
or their talks are completely shut down I could have stood up in the middle of
I could have stood up in the middle of
I could have stood up in the middle of this event and started screaming that
this event and started screaming that
this event and started screaming that Baraka was a hater and an anti-semite
Baraka was a hater and an anti-semite
Baraka was a hater and an anti-semite and that
and that
and that he was invading my safe space I could
he was invading my safe space I could
he was invading my safe space I could have gotten front of the Dean who
have gotten front of the Dean who
have gotten front of the Dean who invited him and screamed at her and said
invited him and screamed at her and said
invited him and screamed at her and said that you know she should resign and lose
that you know she should resign and lose
that you know she should resign and lose her job but what I did instead was as a
her job but what I did instead was as a
her job but what I did instead was as a budding columnist for the heal Daily
budding columnist for the heal Daily
budding columnist for the heal Daily News I went to the event and I at in the
News I went to the event and I at in the
News I went to the event and I at in the back of the room and I respectfully took
back of the room and I respectfully took
back of the room and I respectfully took notes on what he had to say and when
notes on what he had to say and when
notes on what he had to say and when Baraka made his claim that Israel
Baraka made his claim that Israel
Baraka made his claim that Israel somehow knew about 9/11 and didn’t tell
somehow knew about 9/11 and didn’t tell
somehow knew about 9/11 and didn’t tell anyone I got up and asked him if he had
anyone I got up and asked him if he had
anyone I got up and asked him if he had any sources for this information he
any sources for this information he
any sources for this information he looked at me and said I had constipation
looked at me and said I had constipation
looked at me and said I had constipation of the face and required a brain enema
of the face and required a brain enema
of the face and required a brain enema which was a little hurtful particularly
which was a little hurtful particularly
which was a little hurtful particularly when all the students in the room
when all the students in the room
when all the students in the room laughed at me and gave him a standing
laughed at me and gave him a standing
laughed at me and gave him a standing ovation afterwards I went home back to
ovation afterwards I went home back to
ovation afterwards I went home back to my dorm and I wrote a column for the
my dorm and I wrote a column for the
my dorm and I wrote a column for the Yale Daily News and I said that this was
Yale Daily News and I said that this was
Yale Daily News and I said that this was one of the most disturbing events in my
one of the most disturbing events in my
one of the most disturbing events in my life now I look back on this event
life now I look back on this event
life now I look back on this event because it played a major role in my
because it played a major role in my
because it played a major role in my maturation from a teenager into an adult
maturation from a teenager into an adult
maturation from a teenager into an adult in my experience at Yale of confronting
in my experience at Yale of confronting
in my experience at Yale of confronting very difficult ideas and vexing personal
very difficult ideas and vexing personal
very difficult ideas and vexing personal situations has informed the way that I
situations has informed the way that I
situations has informed the way that I look at the debates that are raging
look at the debates that are raging
look at the debates that are raging across this country and indeed the world
across this country and indeed the world
across this country and indeed the world about freedom of speech freedom of
about freedom of speech freedom of
about freedom of speech freedom of speech is the most important right that
speech is the most important right that
speech is the most important right that we have as citizens in a liberal society
we have as citizens in a liberal society
we have as citizens in a liberal society it is the freedom the rights upon which
it is the freedom the rights upon which
it is the freedom the rights upon which all other freedoms are contingent and we
all other freedoms are contingent and we
all other freedoms are contingent and we are incredibly lucky to live in a
are incredibly lucky to live in a
are incredibly lucky to live in a country where we have something called
country where we have something called
country where we have something called the First Amendment the founders
the First Amendment the founders
the First Amendment the founders understood how important free speech was
understood how important free speech was
understood how important free speech was to maintaining a liberal free and
to maintaining a liberal free and
to maintaining a liberal free and democratic society that they enshrined
democratic society that they enshrined
democratic society that they enshrined it as the First Amendment in our
it as the First Amendment in our
it as the First Amendment in our constitution and it’s actually quite
constitution and it’s actually quite
constitution and it’s actually quite rare to live in a society that protects
rare to live in a society that protects
rare to live in a society that protects freedom of speech so strongly as the
freedom of speech so strongly as the
freedom of speech so strongly as the United States according to Freedom House
United States according to Freedom House
United States according to Freedom House which is a global Human Rights monitor
which is a global Human Rights monitor
which is a global Human Rights monitor only 13% of the world’s population live
only 13% of the world’s population live
only 13% of the world’s population live in countries that protect freedom of
in countries that protect freedom of
in countries that protect freedom of speech
speech
speech now I’m often asked as a Jewish person
now I’m often asked as a Jewish person
now I’m often asked as a Jewish person in a gay man how can you support the
in a gay man how can you support the
in a gay man how can you support the rights of bigots and homophobes and
rights of bigots and homophobes and
rights of bigots and homophobes and anti-semites to spew their hatred in
anti-semites to spew their hatred in
anti-semites to spew their hatred in their bigotry to which I respond it is
their bigotry to which I respond it is
their bigotry to which I respond it is precisely because I’m these things that
precisely because I’m these things that
precisely because I’m these things that I think we have to defend the rights of
I think we have to defend the rights of
I think we have to defend the rights of everyone equally to be able to have free
everyone equally to be able to have free
everyone equally to be able to have free speech now unfortunately a lot of people
speech now unfortunately a lot of people
speech now unfortunately a lot of people in my generation I’m on the later side
in my generation I’m on the later side
in my generation I’m on the later side of the Millennial scale a lot of people
of the Millennial scale a lot of people
of the Millennial scale a lot of people in my millennial generation don’t really
in my millennial generation don’t really
in my millennial generation don’t really seem to understand this concept or don’t
seem to understand this concept or don’t
seem to understand this concept or don’t agree with it according to a recent poll
agree with it according to a recent poll
agree with it according to a recent poll Commission commissioned by the Pew
Commission commissioned by the Pew
Commission commissioned by the Pew Research Center 40% of Millennials
Research Center 40% of Millennials
Research Center 40% of Millennials believe that the government should be
believe that the government should be
believe that the government should be able to ban statements that are
able to ban statements that are
able to ban statements that are offensive to minority groups and it’s
offensive to minority groups and it’s
offensive to minority groups and it’s not just Millennials on the other side
not just Millennials on the other side
not just Millennials on the other side of the political spectrum goaded by a
of the political spectrum goaded by a
of the political spectrum goaded by a president who attacks the news outlets
president who attacks the news outlets
president who attacks the news outlets that he doesn’t like as fake news and
that he doesn’t like as fake news and
that he doesn’t like as fake news and who threatens to use the libel laws to
who threatens to use the libel laws to
who threatens to use the libel laws to bank corrupt publications that are
bank corrupt publications that are
bank corrupt publications that are critical about him 45% 45% of
critical about him 45% 45% of
critical about him 45% 45% of Republicans today believe that the
Republicans today believe that the
Republicans today believe that the government should have the right to shut
government should have the right to shut
government should have the right to shut down media outlets that are inaccurate
down media outlets that are inaccurate
down media outlets that are inaccurate or biased a problem that we see what I
or biased a problem that we see what I
or biased a problem that we see what I really actually want to talk about today
really actually want to talk about today
really actually want to talk about today though is the issue of free speech on
though is the issue of free speech on
though is the issue of free speech on campus because it’s there where the
campus because it’s there where the
campus because it’s there where the future generations are being taught and
future generations are being taught and
future generations are being taught and it’s there where frankly it seems not a
it’s there where frankly it seems not a
it’s there where frankly it seems not a day goes by that there isn’t some sort
day goes by that there isn’t some sort
day goes by that there isn’t some sort of controversy erupting about freedom of
of controversy erupting about freedom of
of controversy erupting about freedom of speech of campus speakers being shouted
speech of campus speakers being shouted
speech of campus speakers being shouted down of commencement speakers being
down of commencement speakers being
down of commencement speakers being disinvited and a crucial concept that
disinvited and a crucial concept that
disinvited and a crucial concept that seems to be embraced by many people
seems to be embraced by many people
seems to be embraced by many people today is that words equal violence well
today is that words equal violence well
today is that words equal violence well words are not sticks and stones they may
words are not sticks and stones they may
words are not sticks and stones they may cause you distress as they certainly
cause you distress as they certainly
cause you distress as they certainly have me in the past and frankly every
have me in the past and frankly every
have me in the past and frankly every day I hear words that cause me distress
day I hear words that cause me distress
day I hear words that cause me distress but they’re not going to break your
but they’re not going to break your
but they’re not going to break your bones
bones
bones and what’s rather ironic about this is
and what’s rather ironic about this is
and what’s rather ironic about this is that often the people who make this
that often the people who make this
that often the people who make this claim that words equal violence are the
claim that words equal violence are the
claim that words equal violence are the ones who actually use real violence
ones who actually use real violence
ones who actually use real violence to shut down the speech of people with
to shut down the speech of people with
to shut down the speech of people with whom they disagree
whom they disagree
whom they disagree last year the University of California
last year the University of California
last year the University of California at Berkeley had to spend six hundred
at Berkeley had to spend six hundred
at Berkeley had to spend six hundred thousand dollars on security to protect
thousand dollars on security to protect
thousand dollars on security to protect a speaker coming to campus from a
a speaker coming to campus from a
a speaker coming to campus from a rampaging mob now Yale unfortunately has
rampaging mob now Yale unfortunately has
rampaging mob now Yale unfortunately has not been immune to this intellectual
not been immune to this intellectual
not been immune to this intellectual discourse of censorship a couple days
discourse of censorship a couple days
discourse of censorship a couple days before Halloween in 2015 the Yale
before Halloween in 2015 the Yale
before Halloween in 2015 the Yale intercultural Affairs Council sent an
intercultural Affairs Council sent an
intercultural Affairs Council sent an email to the entire undergraduate
email to the entire undergraduate
email to the entire undergraduate student body and we should ask students
student body and we should ask students
student body and we should ask students not to wear costumes that quote threaten
not to wear costumes that quote threaten
not to wear costumes that quote threaten our sense of community through the
our sense of community through the
our sense of community through the process of cultural appropriation it
process of cultural appropriation it
process of cultural appropriation it then sent a helpful list of costumes to
then sent a helpful list of costumes to
then sent a helpful list of costumes to avoid such as this one now reading this
avoid such as this one now reading this
avoid such as this one now reading this email you would have thought that Yale
email you would have thought that Yale
email you would have thought that Yale was awash with students just running
was awash with students just running
was awash with students just running around in racist offensive Halloween
around in racist offensive Halloween
around in racist offensive Halloween costumes but it actually wasn’t and the
costumes but it actually wasn’t and the
costumes but it actually wasn’t and the problem with this email is that it
problem with this email is that it
problem with this email is that it really assumed the worst of Yale
really assumed the worst of Yale
really assumed the worst of Yale students it assumed that they were just
students it assumed that they were just
students it assumed that they were just waiting for this you know pagan
waiting for this you know pagan
waiting for this you know pagan Bacchanalia holiday to dress up in
Bacchanalia holiday to dress up in
Bacchanalia holiday to dress up in blackface or giant tacos now feeling
blackface or giant tacos now feeling
blackface or giant tacos now feeling understandably somewhat patronized by
understandably somewhat patronized by
understandably somewhat patronized by this email many students wrote to Nicola
this email many students wrote to Nicola
this email many students wrote to Nicola and Erica Christakis the master and
and Erica Christakis the master and
and Erica Christakis the master and associate master respectively of
associate master respectively of
associate master respectively of silliman college in Erica wrote an email
silliman college in Erica wrote an email
silliman college in Erica wrote an email back to her students to the silliman
back to her students to the silliman
back to her students to the silliman community and she said I wonder if we
community and she said I wonder if we
community and she said I wonder if we should reflect more transparently as a
should reflect more transparently as a
should reflect more transparently as a community on the consequences of an
community on the consequences of an
community on the consequences of an institution which is to say bureaucratic
institution which is to say bureaucratic
institution which is to say bureaucratic and administrative exercise of implied
and administrative exercise of implied
and administrative exercise of implied control over college students have we
control over college students have we
control over college students have we lost faith in young people’s capacity in
lost faith in young people’s capacity in
lost faith in young people’s capacity in your capacity to exercise self censure
your capacity to exercise self censure
your capacity to exercise self censure through social norming and also in your
through social norming and also in your
through social norming and also in your capacity to ignore or reject things that
capacity to ignore or reject things that
capacity to ignore or reject things that trouble you seems perfectly reasonable
trouble you seems perfectly reasonable
trouble you seems perfectly reasonable to me
to me
to me if you’re walking down the street and
if you’re walking down the street and
if you’re walking down the street and you see someone wearing a costume that
you see someone wearing a costume that
you see someone wearing a costume that you don’t like you can go up to them and
you don’t like you can go up to them and
you don’t like you can go up to them and perhaps explain to them why you find
perhaps explain to them why you find
perhaps explain to them why you find their costume offensive or you can just
their costume offensive or you can just
their costume offensive or you can just look the other way well that’s when all
look the other way well that’s when all
look the other way well that’s when all hell broke loose 700 students faculty
hell broke loose 700 students faculty
hell broke loose 700 students faculty and alumni signed an open letter
and alumni signed an open letter
and alumni signed an open letter denouncing Nicola and Erica Christakis
denouncing Nicola and Erica Christakis
denouncing Nicola and Erica Christakis the following day a group of students
the following day a group of students
the following day a group of students confronted Nikolas in the quad of
confronted Nikolas in the quad of
confronted Nikolas in the quad of silliman College where they berated him
silliman College where they berated him
silliman College where they berated him over the course of several hours
over the course of several hours
over the course of several hours screaming in his face demanding that he
screaming in his face demanding that he
screaming in his face demanding that he apologized for the thought crimes of his
apologized for the thought crimes of his
apologized for the thought crimes of his wife and then later a group of students
wife and then later a group of students
wife and then later a group of students presented a list of demands to the
presented a list of demands to the
presented a list of demands to the president of Yale College insisting that
president of Yale College insisting that
president of Yale College insisting that Nicola and Erica be fired a common
Nicola and Erica be fired a common
Nicola and Erica be fired a common thread in these arguments in favor of
thread in these arguments in favor of
thread in these arguments in favor of censorship is that censorship helps the
censorship is that censorship helps the
censorship is that censorship helps the victims of discrimination in 2015 a
victims of discrimination in 2015 a
victims of discrimination in 2015 a group of terrorists burst into the Paris
group of terrorists burst into the Paris
group of terrorists burst into the Paris office of Charlie Hebdo a satirical
office of Charlie Hebdo a satirical
office of Charlie Hebdo a satirical newspaper which had published a handful
newspaper which had published a handful
newspaper which had published a handful of cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad in
of cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad in
of cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad in the past and they killed half the staff
shortly afterwards
shortly afterwards Gary Trudeau who’s one of the most
Gary Trudeau who’s one of the most
Gary Trudeau who’s one of the most famous American cartoonists and a Yale
famous American cartoonists and a Yale
famous American cartoonists and a Yale grad by the way he was accepting a
grad by the way he was accepting a
grad by the way he was accepting a Lifetime Achievement Award and he gave a
Lifetime Achievement Award and he gave a
Lifetime Achievement Award and he gave a speech about Charlie Hebdo and
speech about Charlie Hebdo and
speech about Charlie Hebdo and surprisingly he didn’t stand with his
surprisingly he didn’t stand with his
surprisingly he didn’t stand with his murdered colleagues he actually made
murdered colleagues he actually made
murdered colleagues he actually made excuses for the people who killed them
excuses for the people who killed them
excuses for the people who killed them by punching downward by attacking a
by punching downward by attacking a
by punching downward by attacking a powerless disenfranchised minority with
powerless disenfranchised minority with
powerless disenfranchised minority with crude vulgar drawings closer to graffiti
crude vulgar drawings closer to graffiti
crude vulgar drawings closer to graffiti than cartoons Charlie wandered into the
than cartoons Charlie wandered into the
than cartoons Charlie wandered into the realm of hate speech Gary Trudeau said
realm of hate speech Gary Trudeau said
realm of hate speech Gary Trudeau said those of us who defend the right of a
those of us who defend the right of a
those of us who defend the right of a newspaper to mock a religion he said had
newspaper to mock a religion he said had
newspaper to mock a religion he said had surrendered to our own kind of
surrendered to our own kind of
surrendered to our own kind of fanaticism
fanaticism
fanaticism so in Gary Trudeau is logic it was the
so in Gary Trudeau is logic it was the
so in Gary Trudeau is logic it was the men who burst into a newspaper office
men who burst into a newspaper office
men who burst into a newspaper office and killed 11 people because of cartoons
and killed 11 people because of cartoons
and killed 11 people because of cartoons they didn’t like those people were
they didn’t like those people were
they didn’t like those people were apparently powerless and it was the
apparently powerless and it was the
apparently powerless and it was the people who were murdered for drawing
people who were murdered for drawing
people who were murdered for drawing those cartoons who were the fanatics I
those cartoons who were the fanatics I
those cartoons who were the fanatics I have to say if the men and women who
have to say if the men and women who
have to say if the men and women who were murdered by terrorists for drawing
were murdered by terrorists for drawing
were murdered by terrorists for drawing cartoons were alive to hear this excuse
cartoons were alive to hear this excuse
cartoons were alive to hear this excuse for their murder they would probably be
for their murder they would probably be
for their murder they would probably be surprised that it was they and not the
surprised that it was they and not the
surprised that it was they and not the men who killed them who were being
men who killed them who were being
men who killed them who were being accused of punching downwards now
accused of punching downwards now
accused of punching downwards now perhaps you recognize this man over here
perhaps you recognize this man over here
perhaps you recognize this man over here Fred Phelps he used to lead a a church
Fred Phelps he used to lead a a church
Fred Phelps he used to lead a a church called the Westboro Baptist Church and
called the Westboro Baptist Church and
called the Westboro Baptist Church and he would stand outside the funerals of
he would stand outside the funerals of
he would stand outside the funerals of gay men who died of AIDS with these
gay men who died of AIDS with these
gay men who died of AIDS with these lovely signs in 2004 before he died in
lovely signs in 2004 before he died in
lovely signs in 2004 before he died in 2014 the British government banned Fred
2014 the British government banned Fred
2014 the British government banned Fred Phelps from stepping foot on its
Phelps from stepping foot on its
Phelps from stepping foot on its territory because they were accusing him
territory because they were accusing him
territory because they were accusing him of hate speech now I’m obviously very
of hate speech now I’m obviously very
of hate speech now I’m obviously very offended by what Fred Phelps had to say
offended by what Fred Phelps had to say
offended by what Fred Phelps had to say about gays about Jews pretty much about
about gays about Jews pretty much about
about gays about Jews pretty much about everything and I’m sure most of us are
everything and I’m sure most of us are
everything and I’m sure most of us are as well he’s a he was a pretty offensive
as well he’s a he was a pretty offensive
as well he’s a he was a pretty offensive guy that’s kind of what he specialized
guy that’s kind of what he specialized
guy that’s kind of what he specialized in but I can’t think of a worse way to
in but I can’t think of a worse way to
in but I can’t think of a worse way to combat the real evil bigotry of a man
combat the real evil bigotry of a man
combat the real evil bigotry of a man like Fred Phelps than by banning him
like Fred Phelps than by banning him
like Fred Phelps than by banning him from saying what he wants to say and in
from saying what he wants to say and in
from saying what he wants to say and in fact doing so betrays a fundamental
fact doing so betrays a fundamental
fact doing so betrays a fundamental precept of the very movement that has
precept of the very movement that has
precept of the very movement that has won equality for LGBT people in this
won equality for LGBT people in this
won equality for LGBT people in this country which is that living in a free
country which is that living in a free
country which is that living in a free society you should be able to have the
society you should be able to have the
society you should be able to have the right to say to love who you want as
right to say to love who you want as
right to say to love who you want as long as that does not impinge upon the
long as that does not impinge upon the
long as that does not impinge upon the freedom of other people and that’s
freedom of other people and that’s
freedom of other people and that’s because freedom is an expansive concept
because freedom is an expansive concept
because freedom is an expansive concept it includes not just the right to marry
it includes not just the right to marry
it includes not just the right to marry someone of the same gender
someone of the same gender
someone of the same gender but also to say
but also to say
but also to say and write your ideas and sometimes those
and write your ideas and sometimes those
and write your ideas and sometimes those ideas are going to be offensive to
ideas are going to be offensive to
ideas are going to be offensive to people but you don’t have a right to not
people but you don’t have a right to not
people but you don’t have a right to not be offended
be offended
be offended the problem with censorship is that once
the problem with censorship is that once
the problem with censorship is that once you accept a little bit of it
you accept a little bit of it
you accept a little bit of it it’s very very difficult to prevent a
it’s very very difficult to prevent a
it’s very very difficult to prevent a lot let’s take the example of Russia
lot let’s take the example of Russia
lot let’s take the example of Russia where five years ago the government they
where five years ago the government they
where five years ago the government they are passed a law banning the propaganda
are passed a law banning the propaganda
are passed a law banning the propaganda promoting non-traditional sexual
promoting non-traditional sexual
promoting non-traditional sexual relationships to minors now this law
relationships to minors now this law
relationships to minors now this law basically makes it illegal to say
basically makes it illegal to say
basically makes it illegal to say anything remotely positive about gay
anything remotely positive about gay
anything remotely positive about gay people or same-sex relationships and
people or same-sex relationships and
people or same-sex relationships and shortly after this law was passed a 24
shortly after this law was passed a 24
shortly after this law was passed a 24 year old man was arrested simply for
year old man was arrested simply for
year old man was arrested simply for holding up a sign that said support the
holding up a sign that said support the
holding up a sign that said support the gays and lesbians of Russia down with
gays and lesbians of Russia down with
gays and lesbians of Russia down with the fascists and homophobes now clearly
the fascists and homophobes now clearly
the fascists and homophobes now clearly while the one of the reasons this law
while the one of the reasons this law
while the one of the reasons this law was passed was to distract the Russian
was passed was to distract the Russian
was passed was to distract the Russian people from their problem isn’t to
people from their problem isn’t to
people from their problem isn’t to target a vulnerable
target a vulnerable
target a vulnerable minority but there was really a deeper
minority but there was really a deeper
minority but there was really a deeper ulterior motive behind this law this law
ulterior motive behind this law this law
ulterior motive behind this law this law if you read about it is always mentioned
if you read about it is always mentioned
if you read about it is always mentioned in the media as being an anti-gay or a
in the media as being an anti-gay or a
in the media as being an anti-gay or a homophobic law but you actually read the
homophobic law but you actually read the
homophobic law but you actually read the text of the law itself the words gay or
text of the law itself the words gay or
text of the law itself the words gay or homosexual don’t appear once in the text
homosexual don’t appear once in the text
homosexual don’t appear once in the text so ultimately what this law is really
so ultimately what this law is really
so ultimately what this law is really about it’s about prohibiting a certain
about it’s about prohibiting a certain
about it’s about prohibiting a certain type of speech and then it affects
type of speech and then it affects
type of speech and then it affects everyone in Russia not just the gay
everyone in Russia not just the gay
everyone in Russia not just the gay people but straight people as well
people but straight people as well
people but straight people as well and the reason that the Russian
and the reason that the Russian
and the reason that the Russian government did this and the reason why
government did this and the reason why
government did this and the reason why it should concern those of us who
it should concern those of us who
it should concern those of us who believe in freedom is that if the
believe in freedom is that if the
believe in freedom is that if the Russian government can ban certain types
Russian government can ban certain types
Russian government can ban certain types of positive references about
of positive references about
of positive references about homosexuality today what’s to stop it
homosexuality today what’s to stop it
homosexuality today what’s to stop it from banning negative comments in
from banning negative comments in
from banning negative comments in negative speech about Vladimir Putin or
negative speech about Vladimir Putin or
negative speech about Vladimir Putin or the Russian government tomorrow because
the Russian government tomorrow because
the Russian government tomorrow because it’s this ultimately what frightens
it’s this ultimately what frightens
it’s this ultimately what frightens Vladimir Putin most it’s not gay people
Vladimir Putin most it’s not gay people
Vladimir Putin most it’s not gay people it’s not the moral degradation of
it’s not the moral degradation of
it’s not the moral degradation of Russian society if he really cared about
Russian society if he really cared about
Russian society if he really cared about the moral degradation of Russian society
the moral degradation of Russian society
the moral degradation of Russian society surely he’d be doing something to combat
surely he’d be doing something to combat
surely he’d be doing something to combat the rampant alcohol
the rampant alcohol
the rampant alcohol the unwanted pregnancies the
the unwanted pregnancies the
the unwanted pregnancies the transmission of sexually transmitted
transmission of sexually transmitted
transmission of sexually transmitted diseases he’d be doing all sorts of
diseases he’d be doing all sorts of
diseases he’d be doing all sorts of things to combat those problems but he’s
things to combat those problems but he’s
things to combat those problems but he’s not because he knows that a society
not because he knows that a society
not because he knows that a society where people are able to speak freely
where people are able to speak freely
where people are able to speak freely free of the soviet-era fear that what
free of the soviet-era fear that what
free of the soviet-era fear that what they say could land them in jail or find
they say could land them in jail or find
they say could land them in jail or find a society where people are able to speak
a society where people are able to speak
a society where people are able to speak freely is a society where his power is
freely is a society where his power is
freely is a society where his power is challenged and so what does he do he
challenged and so what does he do he
challenged and so what does he do he chips away bit by bit little by little
chips away bit by bit little by little
chips away bit by bit little by little on the freedom of the Russian people to
on the freedom of the Russian people to
on the freedom of the Russian people to speak their minds and have a debate and
speak their minds and have a debate and
speak their minds and have a debate and have a conversation freedom of speech
have a conversation freedom of speech
have a conversation freedom of speech was ultimately the tool that all civil
was ultimately the tool that all civil
was ultimately the tool that all civil rights movements in America used to gain
rights movements in America used to gain
rights movements in America used to gain their equality from the african-american
their equality from the african-american
their equality from the african-american civil rights movement to the women’s
civil rights movement to the women’s
civil rights movement to the women’s movement to the gay rights movement it
movement to the gay rights movement it
movement to the gay rights movement it wasn’t so long ago that gay people
wasn’t so long ago that gay people
wasn’t so long ago that gay people couldn’t even meet in a bar without
couldn’t even meet in a bar without
couldn’t even meet in a bar without worrying that the police might just
worrying that the police might just
worrying that the police might just randomly show up assault the patrons and
randomly show up assault the patrons and
randomly show up assault the patrons and cart them off to jail gay publications
cart them off to jail gay publications
cart them off to jail gay publications were confiscated in the u.s. mail and
were confiscated in the u.s. mail and
were confiscated in the u.s. mail and their publishers were brought to court
their publishers were brought to court
their publishers were brought to court for transmitting obscenity so gay rights
for transmitting obscenity so gay rights
for transmitting obscenity so gay rights pioneers to fight this what did they do
pioneers to fight this what did they do
pioneers to fight this what did they do they organized they marched they wrote
they organized they marched they wrote
they organized they marched they wrote newspaper articles they used the First
newspaper articles they used the First
newspaper articles they used the First Amendment they used their freedom of
Amendment they used their freedom of
Amendment they used their freedom of speech this is a photo taken in 1965 of
speech this is a photo taken in 1965 of
speech this is a photo taken in 1965 of the first gay rights protest in the
the first gay rights protest in the
the first gay rights protest in the United States and it took place across
United States and it took place across
United States and it took place across the street from the White House 1965
the street from the White House 1965
the street from the White House 1965 imagine how incredibly brave those men
imagine how incredibly brave those men
imagine how incredibly brave those men and women were they were almost
and women were they were almost
and women were they were almost universally seen by American society as
universally seen by American society as
universally seen by American society as being sick and depraved but what changed
being sick and depraved but what changed
being sick and depraved but what changed over the next 50 years they used their
over the next 50 years they used their
over the next 50 years they used their freedom of speech to convince people
freedom of speech to convince people
freedom of speech to convince people that they were right and that they
that they were right and that they
that they were right and that they weren’t subhuman that they were just
weren’t subhuman that they were just
weren’t subhuman that they were just like other people a couple of years ago
like other people a couple of years ago
like other people a couple of years ago a pair of gay businessmen they hosted a
a pair of gay businessmen they hosted a
a pair of gay businessmen they hosted a fireside chat with Texas senator Ted
fireside chat with Texas senator Ted
fireside chat with Texas senator Ted Cruz
Cruz
Cruz who’s a pretty vocal opponent of gay
who’s a pretty vocal opponent of gay
who’s a pretty vocal opponent of gay marriage when news of this meeting went
marriage when news of this meeting went
marriage when news of this meeting went public there were calls for massive
public there were calls for massive
public there were calls for massive protests of the two gay businessmen of
protests of the two gay businessmen of
protests of the two gay businessmen of their businesses people on Facebook
their businesses people on Facebook
their businesses people on Facebook called them cockroaches and compared
called them cockroaches and compared
called them cockroaches and compared them to Nazi collaborators simply
them to Nazi collaborators simply
them to Nazi collaborators simply because they had a meeting with Ted Cruz
ultimately they apologized because they
ultimately they apologized because they were fearful that their businesses would
were fearful that their businesses would
were fearful that their businesses would take a hit and what was so discouraging
take a hit and what was so discouraging
take a hit and what was so discouraging about this was that a group of gay
about this was that a group of gay
about this was that a group of gay people were attacking another group of
people were attacking another group of
people were attacking another group of gay people simply for having a
gay people simply for having a
gay people simply for having a conversation
conversation
conversation it’s as if they forgot the entire
it’s as if they forgot the entire
it’s as if they forgot the entire history of the gay rights movement which
history of the gay rights movement which
history of the gay rights movement which was based upon convincing people who
was based upon convincing people who
was based upon convincing people who disagreed to change their minds gay
disagreed to change their minds gay
disagreed to change their minds gay people ultimately won the arguments
people ultimately won the arguments
people ultimately won the arguments because they decided to have one it was
because they decided to have one it was
because they decided to have one it was people like Frank Kameny
people like Frank Kameny
people like Frank Kameny who in 1957 was a was fired from his job
who in 1957 was a was fired from his job
who in 1957 was a was fired from his job in the Army map service because he was
in the Army map service because he was
in the Army map service because he was gay and what did he do 16 years later he
gay and what did he do 16 years later he
gay and what did he do 16 years later he successfully campaigned to get the
successfully campaigned to get the
successfully campaigned to get the American Psychiatric Association to
American Psychiatric Association to
American Psychiatric Association to remove homosexuality from his list of
remove homosexuality from his list of
remove homosexuality from his list of mental disorders the Kemeny had very
mental disorders the Kemeny had very
mental disorders the Kemeny had very little power compared to an established
little power compared to an established
little power compared to an established institution like the American
institution like the American
institution like the American Psychiatric Association and he won his
Psychiatric Association and he won his
Psychiatric Association and he won his battle not by limiting the free speech
battle not by limiting the free speech
battle not by limiting the free speech rights of those with whom he disagreed
rights of those with whom he disagreed
rights of those with whom he disagreed but by fully embracing his own freedom
but by fully embracing his own freedom
but by fully embracing his own freedom of speech is the lifeblood of democracy
of speech is the lifeblood of democracy
of speech is the lifeblood of democracy and being able to argue with people
and being able to argue with people
and being able to argue with people respectfully even if they have awful
respectfully even if they have awful
respectfully even if they have awful hateful repulsive ideas is what
hateful repulsive ideas is what
hateful repulsive ideas is what distinguishes us from the dictatorships
distinguishes us from the dictatorships
distinguishes us from the dictatorships and the tribal societies where
and the tribal societies where
and the tribal societies where differences are settled by the sword if
differences are settled by the sword if
differences are settled by the sword if they’re even settled at all the best
they’re even settled at all the best
they’re even settled at all the best antidote to hateful stupid and offensive
antidote to hateful stupid and offensive
antidote to hateful stupid and offensive speech is intelligent persuasive in
speech is intelligent persuasive in
speech is intelligent persuasive in nuanced speech and that’s as true for
nuanced speech and that’s as true for
nuanced speech and that’s as true for gay rights in Russia
gay rights in Russia
gay rights in Russia as it is for Halloween costumes here at
as it is for Halloween costumes here at
as it is for Halloween costumes here at Yale thank you very much
Yale thank you very much
Yale thank you very much [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] you
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