Centre in the Square event draws online criticism, concerns of transphobia

Community members are having their voices heard on Twitter, voicing concern over the announcement of a visit to the City of Kitchener by Dr. Jordan B. Peterson, a controversial best-selling author, podcaster and clinical psychologist. 

That Live Nation event, set for Centre in the Square on May 25th, introduces Dr. Peterson as the publisher of “over one hundred scientific papers, transforming the modern understanding of personality” while speaking to his credits as a teacher, lecturer and advisor.

However, the reality is to some, the image of Peterson is a more contentious point, argued by some to be divisive, pseudo-scientific and transphobic. 

On Twitter, the announcement has been met with a largely negative response, with some arguing the booking runs contrary to the region's work toward creating a more inclusive community.

Some users have gone so far as to accuse Centre in the Square of platforming hate speech, while contemplating whether to continue their support for the venue.

One of those voices expressing concern over the Live Nation event is local Trans Advocate Cait Glasson, calling the booking “disappointing.”

Glasson argued it's “not really up for debate whether (Peterson) is transphobic,” as she evoked Peterson's decision as a once-tenured professor at the University of Toronto to refuse the chosen pronouns of students in his classroom.

Glasson said she feels bringing Peterson's event has the potential to create harm for those in the Trans community, as she said Peterson “contributes to the overall undermining of Trans rights and Trans identity.”

“He comes across with his fairly facile and honestly, for someone that's been at this for as long as I have, really simplistic ideas.” said Glasson.

“People will respond to those simplistic ideas. He's good at being a populist, because he can put things into terms that people will think they understand. He's effective at creating an air of transphobia where he moves.”

With Centre in the Square receiving an operating grant through the City of Kitchener, and the theatre building owned by the city, Glasson argued it's “inappropriate” for the venue to host the event. 

“This is using public money to support someone who is speaking, let's be generous, ill of one part of our community – and it's part of our community that gets spoken ill of already enough; we don't need the extra help from Mr. Peterson,” said Glasson. 

While Glasson argued that there are those that may be “more directly dangerous” to the Trans community than Dr. Peterson, Glasson said his lectures can have a “long-term effect” on people that indirectly impacts the Trans community. 

“As I've said many times, the state of my life currently is not great; and the reason for that is not being Trans: it's other people's reaction to my being trans…” said Glasson.

“It's other people's reactions – and Mr. Peterson's words will tend to make those reactions worse. 

When asked how she'd like to see Centre in the Square respond to the criticism they've received online, Glasson said they'd like to see the venue offer some “counter-programming” featuring a prominent Trans voice or some Queer, intellectual content. Rather than proposing the cancellation or “de-platforming” of Dr. Peterson, Glasson said she's more in favour of countering the event through speech.

“I think it's been so well established that Jordan B. Peterson is such a clear trans phobe – and I rarely will say that a person is a racist or a trans phobe but I will say they do racist or transphobic things,” said Glasson.

“But in his case, he's clearly so deliberate about it that I don't see the reason that we need this in the community.”

CityNews 570 has reached out to Centre in the Square for their perspective on the booking.

. @LiveNationON presents @jordanbpeterson – Beyond Order tour on May 25. Tickets go on sale Friday at 10AM. pic.twitter.com/9rDZRQDOvq

— Centre In The Square (@Centre_Square) February 7, 2022