Over 100 ASU faculty, staff and students signed a letter stating concern regarding "The Family Under Attack" Luncheon's keynote speaker, Mary Rice Hasson, who has an alleged history of using religion to perpetuate an anti-transgender ideology.
At the event on Feb. 4, Hasson will be speaking on "recent efforts to dismantle families and undermine American parents," according to the ASU Events page.
Seren Nutt, vice president of the ASU LGBTQ+ Faculty and Staff Association, said the event caught their attention after it was sent to them by a member of their general body, which prompted the organization to compose a letter addressing the ASU community.
"In the interest of functioning within 'a free speech' frame, we would like to use our voice to speak to the damaging effect of these events and ideologies, together with affirming our LGBTQ+ students, staff, and faculty that we will continue to advocate and center your humanity," the letter stated.
Antonio Duran, an associate professor and president of the LGBTQ+ Faculty and Staff Association, said he is concerned with the values Hasson is speaking about and the effects that hosting the speaker could have on the transgender community at ASU.
"We are particularly concerned about the effects that such rhetoric has on our trans students, staff and faculty population on campus, to see that there are speakers who are coming to speak to campus that are essentially denying their existence, their identities and their humanity," Duran said.
According to ASU Events, Hasson is an attorney and policy expert who co-founded the "Person and Identity Project," which is an initiative that promotes the "Catholic vision of the human person and responding to the challenges of gender ideology."
The letter expressed concern about using the First Amendment's right to free speech to justify what they perceive as a "dangerous" event.
"Arizona State University is committed to fostering a campus environment that values diversity, open dialogue, and the free exchange of ideas," a University spokesperson stated in an email. "The university also supports the right to free speech as guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. Each semester, ASU colleges, schools, units and centers welcome hundreds of speakers representing a wide range of perspectives. The presence of any speaker does not imply university endorsement."
Duran said that although he supports upholding the freedom of speech, the First Amendment does not support speech that could incite imminent harm or violence, which he said this conversation has the potential to cause.
"I want to be really clear in stating that discriminatory speech or those that target people, that have the potential to incite both emotional and physical forms of violence, are those that I do not believe in as being in alignment with our values as an institution," Duran said.
Nutt said the current political climate has created an environment where hateful rhetoric and actions are more openly expressed and have a bigger platform.
"It gives people the confidence to say hurtful, hateful, violent things under that umbrella of free speech," Nutt said.
The letter also detailed plans to hold an event called LGBTQ+ Community of Care, in partnership with the Rainbow Coalition, on the same day as the luncheon. It is set to be held in the Multicultural Communities of Excellence space on the Tempe campus with the option to attend the event online, Nutt said.
Duran said he hopes the letter and the event will help the ASU community better understand the importance of advocating for its LGBTQ+ peers and colleagues.
"I am just hoping that we can continue as community members to look out for one another and to advocate for everyone's humanity at ASU," he said.
A University spokesperson said ASU provides resources for LGBTQ+ students, faculty and staff, "ensuring they have access to support, advocacy, and engagement opportunities."
Hasson did not respond to a request for comment.
Edited by Senna James, Abigail Beck, Tiya Talwar and Katrina Michalak.
Reach the reporter at alillest@asu.edu and follow @allylillestol on X.
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Allison is a sophomore studying journalism and mass communication. This is her first semester at The State Press. She has also worked at Arizona PBS and Blaze Radio.
