A Statement About the Toronto Public Library

[Statement update: November 4. 2019]

This is a follow-up to our last Statement (see bottom of post) about the TPL situation. This has been a very difficult week to navigate, and we have discussed and reflected on everything our community has been saying. We also realize our original statement, being geared more for a general audience, did not address the concerns of the marginalized people most affected by the TPL Board’s actions, and we realize we should have prioritized their needs first. Therefore, we would like to take this opportunity to clarify our decision to have WordPlay remain at the TPL, and to address the very valid concerns of safety.

First, we want to reiterate that we believe the decisions of TPL’s leadership has made the TPL less accessible for marginalized people, who no longer feel safe there. The TPL Board has damaged LGBTQ2S+ relations in this city and this is a fact that cannot be ignored. In terms of actions moving forward, HES will be reviewing our policy of continuing to book events at TPL for 2020 and beyond.

That being said, HES’s core staff are mostly queer, trans, and BIPOC. We do not tolerate ideologies as espoused by the likes of Meghan Murphy, and neither do many TPL staff workers nor their union. As a nomadic organization who depends on the TPL to connect gamemakers from all backgrounds with a public audience, and to reach those in under-served communities outside the downtown core who have no other way of accessing our programming, we are deeply invested in holding the institution accountable long-term. We see WordPlay as an opportunity for those of us who are able to hold space to speak for those who cannot, and work towards a future where we can once again feel confident that the TPL has our back.

The position of TERFs (Trans Exclusionary Radical Feminists) is that trans people do not exist. Giving trans artists a platform and a voice within our largest public institutions is proof that we do. We absolutely respect those who have chosen to boycott the library in protest or for their own safety, but we believe ours is a complementary strategy, not an opposing one. This is a position shared by those such as local trans activist/artist Kai Cheng Thom. We have drawn a lot of understandable criticism for choosing not to boycott, and we acknowledge that speaking only of visibility for artists does not address the issue of participants feeling unsafe; but there is safety in numbers. We ARE the public. We have the right to exist without fear, at the TPL and everywhere.

Call to Action

We would like to speak openly about safety for a moment: Many of our events are held in public spaces with an open general attendance. These spaces have never been completely free of people with offensive and harmful views, but we have always done our best to cultivate a community culture that addresses and opposes all forms of hatred and bigotry. Our harassment policy says ‘safer’ rather than ‘safe’ for this reason, but we have and always will do our best to be clear about what we stand for: To be welcoming and inclusive to people of all backgrounds, to do the work of educating the curious and questioning, and to step in to defuse situations that may be harmful to marginalized participants.

Our stance and policies have not changed, but we want to be transparent that community trust in the TPL has been eroded, and that to stay at TPL is to deliberately stand on broken ground.

We believe in the power of presence and active participation. There are many trans and non-binary artists who are speaking and showcasing at WordPlay, and who serve as staff and volunteers at HES. If you are reading this and plan on attending, we ask you to consider standing in solidarity with us, and help us transform this broken ground into a Safer Space for trans participants, visitors, and even organizers. For we at HES have always relied on the community to help us cultivate an inclusive environment, and in this moment, we need your support more than ever.

There is transformative power in community that can redefine a space to be safer and more inclusive to its most vulnerable members. This is why we ask everyone, especially the cis members of our community, to show up for the trans participants, visitors, and organizers and to affirm that our community is one dedicated to upholding trans rights and to give them they support they need in a difficult time. Be present to show support for your fellow trans community members, to educate others that may not know on the issues trans people face, and above all to uplift trans voices in regards to these issues.

Safety Policies

To reiterate our policies and procedures surrounding safety, which we implement at all public events, Safety Check Personnel (comprised of both HES staff and volunteers) will be clearly visible by a wide red ribbon/sash with Hand Eye Society stickers attached to it. We will be mostly working in pairs so that if an attendee is being harassed or made to feel uncomfortable, one person can distract or stall the instigator while the other volunteer leads the attendee to our Staff Only Green Room. Safety Check Personnel will be looking to de-escalate or report incidents ranging from overt harassment to conversations or interactions that do not uphold the spirit of trans-inclusivity or a welcoming atmosphere in general. Library security will be immediately informed in cases of repeated or malicious behaviour. Reference Library staff have responded to our inquiry about trans-inclusivity and safety, and have assured us that library staff are trained to enforce the branch’s Rules of Conduct.

If you would like to volunteer to be a Safety Check person during WordPlay, please contact volunteer@handeyesociety.com and we will be in touch with more information.

On a final note, here is some positive news has resulted from the Palmerston protest which some of us were able to attend last Tuesday. The fight continues on many fronts. We appreciate everyone who has taken the time to reach out with both support and criticism, and with all our powers combined, look forward to seeing you at a TPL branch again someday with clear hearts.

-Sagan Yee
Hand Eye Society Executive Director
They/them

Thank you to Sebastian Pines/smolghost (whose game strollplaying game trio pack will be in the WordPlay showcase all weekend) for contributing to this statement!

Original statement:

Dear WordPlay Guests and Attendees,

On behalf of Hand Eye Society, I would like to reach out and address a serious issue which has come to light regarding the Toronto Public Library (TPL) and their decision to allow a third party (Radical Feminists Unite – Toronto) to rent the Palmerston Library branch for an event called “Gender Identity: What Does It Mean for Society, the Law and Women?” The main speaker, Meghan Murphy, has a long track record of opposing rights and federal protections for transgender people under the guise of feminism and free speech, frequently speaks at events where transphobic merch is sold, and has been banned from Twitter for transphobic conduct.

Hand Eye Society, among many others, believe that this decision violates the TPL’s own Denial of Use Policy, which states that the library reserves the right to deny or cancel a booking that they believe is likely to promote, or would have the effect of promoting discrimination, contempt or hatred for any group or person on the basis of gender identity or expression. However, the TPL’s Board of Directors has voted to allow Murphy to continue with their event, claiming that because Murphy’s talk did not technically violate any laws or the Criminal Code, that the event will go ahead as scheduled. The Board and Head Librarian have also repeatedly cited the protection of free speech as a reason for their decision. Again, neither legal definitions of “hate speech” nor free speech protections are mentioned as the primary mechanism for the TPL to deny service according to their own Policy.

Hand Eye Society strongly opposes both Murphy’s views and TPL Board’s decision to allow the event to continue. We have several trans/non-binary staff, including the Executive Director, and have run many events at various TPL branches across the city. We know that the TPL Board does not speak for all library staff workers, their union, or the communities who depend on the TPL for access to vital resources, and that they are largely an important institution that provide invaluable services to people of all backgrounds. That being said, we believe the Board’s decision and their justifications for it have eroded community trust in the TPL as an organization which claims to respect the rights of LGBTQ2S+ people, and we believe the TPL should be held accountable for enforcing their own Policies as written.

All HES events already planned at TPL fpr 2019, including WordPlay, will be going ahead as scheduled. However, we stand in solidarity with those who choose to withdraw participation from events hosted at the TPL, boycott, protest, or take any action that amplifies trans voices and awareness of trans issues. If you are a guest or artist who has concerns about your continued participation in WordPlay, or just want to reach out in general, do not hesitate to get in touch.

If you are not familiar with these issues, are unsure of why Murphy’s talk constitutes transphobia, or are uncomfortable with our bringing attention to these matters, we encourage you to read the links provided below which provide additional details and background context. We will attempt to educate in whatever capacity we can manage, but our top priority is ensuring that artists and attendees of WordPlay can be informed about what’s going on and our collective stance on the matter.

Thank you for your patience and understanding in light of these circumstances.

In solidarity,

-Sagan Yee, Executive Director

Hand Eye Society Board and Staff

LINKS AND RESOURCES

Section 4.4 of the TPL’s Denial of Use Policy which states: The Library reserves the right to deny or cancel a booking when it reasonably believes use by any individual or group will be for a purpose that is likely to promote, or would have the effect of promoting discrimination, contempt or hatred for any group or person on the basis of race, ethnic origin, place of origin, citizenship, colour, ancestry, language, creed (religion), age, sex, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, family status, sexual orientation, disability, political affiliation, membership in a union or staff association, receipt of public assistance, level of literacy or any other similar factor.