Trans lives are currently under attack throughout the United States. The ACLU is currently tracking almost 400 pieces of anti-trans legislation throughout the United States, with increased numbers coming in throughout 2023. This attack has now unfortunately made its way to the University of Pittsburgh.

The University of Pittsburgh is an academic and career home base for many trans students and employees. In many ways, the University has affirmed its commitment to both material and symbolic support of the queer and trans community. The Plan for Pitt expressly commits to promoting Diversity and Inclusion as one of its pillars, writing, “​​We aspire to be a university community that embodies diversity and inclusion as core values that enrich learning, scholarship and the communities we serve.” It goes on to emphasize the importance of campus climate and the retention of students and staff of diverse backgrounds. The University explicitly states that it is “committed to supporting and sustaining an inclusive and equitable campus environment — one that welcomes, values and embraces the diverse perspectives of community members of all sexual orientation, gender identities, and gender expressions.” 

With that in mind, it is unacceptable and against the values of this University to allow groups under its administration and on its behalf to host events featuring individuals who wish to advance a platform of hate and transphobia and make our beloved institution an accomplice to the trending attacks that place trans bodies and humanity in the middle of a culture war fabricated entirely for political gain. 

A University of Pittsburgh chapter of Turning Point USA is hosting Riley Gaines as a speaker on March 27th, 2023, at the O’Hara Ballroom. Riley Gaines is a known transphobe who continually denies the existence of trans women and advocates for banning trans women from sports. This event is scheduled to begin on the first day of Pitt Pride week. The event being hosted is entitled “Saving Women’s Sports." In this event, Gaines is advocating for the removal of trans women from the competition of sports with cisgender women. This type of language pushes the narrative that trans women are not women, invalidates their existence, and threatens their safety.

Additionally, the University of Pittsburgh chapter of Turning Point USA is hosting known transphobe Cabot Phillips on March 24th, 2023, in the Cathedral of Learning. 

On top of this, there is a "debate" over transness being hosted by the Intercollegiate Studies Institute via Pitt Republicans, which features Michael Knowles and Deirdre McCloskey on April 18th, 2023, at the O’Hara Ballroom. Just last week, Michael Knowles explicitly advocated for the “Eradication of transgenderism” at the Conservative Political Action Conference. This language directly threatens violence against trans individuals. It once again violates the University of Pittsburgh’s commitment to diversity and inclusion and the University of Pittsburgh’s Nondiscrimination, Equal Opportunity, and Affirmative Action Policy (CS 07). This harassment and antagonism are not part of the exercise of free speech; they are intended to normalize the marginalization and incite action against trans individuals and would not be tolerated by the Pitt administration for other groups on campus. Debates about human rights and the validity of the existence of queer and trans individuals, and anyone within our community, are not debates; they are incendiary and hateful propaganda that destabilizes what we are all working for in building community at Pitt. 

This egregious display of transphobia and hate cannot be allowed to occur on the University of Pittsburgh’s campus. We must keep students, faculty, staff, and the greater Pittsburgh community safe. It is deeply disturbing that the Office of Student Affairs is even considering the approval of these events to take place on campus, as it violates multiple principles and policies the University of Pittsburgh states that it stands for. 

Please sign and share our petition in order to ensure these events do not occur on our campus and to make sure to hold the University accountable to the ideals it claims to represent and uphold. By signing this, you join me in calling on Chancellor Patrick Gallagher, Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor Ann E. Cudd, Vice Provost for Student Affairs Kenyon R. Bonner, and Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Clyde Wilson Pickett to stand by and uphold Pitt’s supposed values by speaking up in support of queer and trans people at Pitt, and to prevent these events from happening in buildings where we live, learn, and build community.