If We Have a Fundamental Moral Disagreement, Why Are We Still Talking?

Holly Lawford-Smith shows up for the self-appointed ‘heterodoxy’ at Colorado State University

“Gender-critical feminism” is anti-trans. I know this, but once in a while, I read a book or watch a video to be sure I’m not missing any detail.

Recently I watched a recording of an event that was held May 2, 2024. The video was posted to YouTube on June 4 under the title “Gender-Critical Feminism | Holly Lawford-Smith & Ann Little | HxA @ CSU.”

This Was a Production of the Heterodox Academy

The video begins with Matt Hickey explaining that the Heterodox Academy has chapters at 50 schools, totaling 7,000 members. Hickey is Colorado State University’s “campus coach” for the Heterodox community, and this event was the group’s first public meeting, cosponsored by the CSU History Department.

Hickey says (1:22–2:32) the Heterodox Academy’s “three pillars” are:

• “Open inquiry”: “The ability to ask questions, to share ideas, and to challenge existing orthodoxy without risk of censure”
• “Viewpoint diversity”: Group members “approach problems or questions from a range of perspectives, backgrounds, and…