Eventbrite Cancels ‘Let Women Speak’ Event Alleging ‘Hateful Content’

 Eventbrite removed the listing of an upcoming “Let Women Speak Austin” event hosted by the Independent Women’s Network (IWN), which will focus on protecting women’s sex-specific spaces like restrooms and locker rooms.

Eventbrite said the event violated its rules in an email sent to the IWN.

“We have determined that your event is not permitted on the Eventbrite platform as it violates our Community Guidelines and Terms of Service, specifically our policy on Hateful, Dangerous, or Violent Content and Events,” the email said. “As a result, your event has been unpublished.”

The event, set to take place on August 12th at the Texas State Capitol, will emphasize the “need to preserve and maintain our spaces such as bathrooms, locker rooms, prisons, dressing rooms, and sororities,” a press release from the organization explained. “Events like this one where we come together and use our voices is crucial to continue advocating for the preservation of these single-sex spaces.”

IWN is calling on Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott to protect women’s spaces, saying, “Women and girls still have no guarantee of privacy in places such as bathrooms, dressing rooms, locker rooms, shelters, prisons, and dormitories.”

A letter from the IWN blasted Eventbrite’s decision to remove the listing as “blatantly sexist.”

“Inviting survivors of sexual assault to share their concerns about being forced to undress in front of biological males is not hateful – it’s empowering,” it continued.

The letter, signed by IWN Austin chapter leader Michelle Evans and Independent Women’s Forum President Carrie Lukas, contended that it is empowering, not hateful, to give a voice to female athletes “who have suffered lasting physical harm, lost awards, and been passed over for scholarships when forced to compete against biological males.”

 

“Your team of ‘Trust and Safety experts’ insults every woman in America by labeling events like these ‘hateful,’” the letter from IWN charged.

IWN noted that the event will go on as planned, and “the crowd of women ready to give a public record of their dissent grows with every retweet about the deplatforming.”

“Stop silencing women. Reverse this decision immediately.”