Big Tech Silenced Even a Black Lesbian with a Harvard Law Degree

Editor’s note: This column first appeared on the blog

Reality’s Last Stand

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Lately, I have been reminded of the ease with which one can be silenced in today’s America.

I wrote and published an article on Medium about the implications of transgender inclusion on the rights of women and lesbians. Given my identity as a gay woman of color, this issue is of great importance to me. However, to my surprise, less than 24 hours after it was published, Medium’s Trust & Safety team removed the article for violating community guidelines. Moreover, I was warned that repeated violations could result in the suspension of my account.

My offense? Posting “hateful content.”

To put things into perspective, I have over 1,000 followers and nearly 70 published articles on Medium. I am a Harvard Law School graduate and a member of the Board of Advisors of the Foundation Against Intolerance and Racism. I am also a published author and a TEDx speaker. Most of my writing focuses on uniting people based on shared values and interests. I have never been accused of promoting hateful ideas.

This incident is filled with irony, as I have spent a significant portion of my life feeling invisible and voiceless.

Safeguarding our cherished right to free speech is a difficult and selfless task. We must be willing to protect it for all, even those we vehemently disagree with.

Growing up as a Black and gay individual in the 70s and 80s was a lonely and often heartbreaking experience. Fortunately, as America confronts its legacy of racism, sexism, and homophobia, the situation has improved. Barriers have been torn down, and people have become more open-minded.

I have a successful legal career in entertainment, and I am in an interracial relationship with a white partner and raising a biracial son. We live happily in a predominantly white and Christian state. The past two decades have empowered me and granted me a voice.

However, now I fear that I am in danger of losing my voice. I worry that I, along with countless other women, are gradually becoming invisible. This invisibility is not caused by right-wing extremists, but rather by those who advocate for tolerance and inclusion.

Medium’s content curators removed my article because it supposedly “disempowered” and excluded others based on “protected characteristics,” i.e., biological men identifying as women. Ironically, they had no qualms about disempowering and excluding me as a member of three “protected” groups from their community.

Furthermore, I was silenced for expressing concerns about how the inclusion of biological men in women’s sports, prisons, and other traditionally protected spaces may compromise the rights and safety of biological women and lesbians. Yet, the act of deplatforming my article itself demonstrated the marginalization I was addressing in the first place.

When I shared this incident with a left-leaning friend, she cautioned that right-wing extremists have created a dangerous environment for transgender Americans. While this is undoubtedly true, I am not a right-wing extremist. Why should my concerns be equated with fringe elements that I have nothing in common with? If raising thoughtful concerns on behalf of protected groups can be labeled as “hateful content,” then where is the threshold for hate?

One does not need to be gay, female, or a person of color to understand the danger this situation presents to all Americans. If the boundaries of prohibited speech continue to expand, anyone who disagrees with us can silence us simply by labeling us as “hateful.” However, if we constantly fear offending others, how long will it be before we are too afraid to say anything?

Freedom of speech is one of our most treasured rights. The free exchange of ideas is what sets our country apart. It has fueled innovation, empowered marginalized communities, and led to groundbreaking thoughts. Due to my unique background and experiences, freedom of speech holds a special place in my heart. Where would I be today if voices that made others uncomfortable were silenced?

But protecting this sacred right comes with challenges. It requires constant vigilance and selflessness. We must be willing to protect it for all individuals, even those we vehemently disagree with.

Unfortunately, an increasing number of social media platforms are not committed to doing this hard work. They seem willing to sacrifice freedom of speech when it discomforts others, even if the individuals expressing their views have lived in discomfort for most of their lives (and often still do). These platforms fail to recognize that the lofty goals of tolerance and inclusion become performative when they are limited to those with preferred agendas. Selective tolerance and inclusion are not progressive; they are regressive.

At present, I write with uncertainty looming over my head. Will advocating for the rights of women and lesbians lead to me being labeled a TERF? Will my next article offend others and be the one that results in the termination of my account?

What I do know for certain is that this is not the way people should live in a free society. If we can spend billions of dollars fighting for the freedom of individuals in other countries, then surely we can find the courage to defend this precious right at home.

Let’s prioritize less talk about tolerance and inclusion and focus more on practicing it.

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