Weaponized Free Speech: Decolonial Perspectives on Anti-Trans and Pro-Palestinian Rhetoric in Academia

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Thursday 8:00 am Four Seasons Ballroom 1
  In Roundtable Session: Pro-Palestinian Education (Table 8)

Abstract

Academic freedom is essential for scholarly exploration and debate, yet it is inconsistently applied in many U.S. universities, particularly regarding advocacy for Palestinian rights and anti-trans campus events. This paper examines the parallels between the "Palestine Exception" in academic freedom and pervasive anti-trans rhetoric within universities. It explores how free speech is weaponized to justify anti-trans harassment while silencing marginalized trans voices, revealing selective enforcement. Utilizing decolonial communication studies, the study highlights interconnected oppressions affecting both pro-Palestinian and trans individuals. By analyzing responses to anti-trans events using critical discourse analysis, the proposal advocates for a more inclusive approach to academic freedom, aiming to inform policy changes and support marginalized scholars and activists in their pursuit of equity and justice.

Author

• Omi Salas-SantaCruz, University of Utah