Transgender digital rights activist confronts hate-monger Rep. Nancy Mace at Internet summit
WASHINGTON, DC––Activist Evan Greer (she/they), the director of prominent digital rights group Fight for the Future, was ejected from the Project Liberty “Summit on the Future of the Internet” at Georgetown University today, after speaking out against hate during the opening panel featuring Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC).
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On the day following the Trans Day of Remembrance, as Rep. Mace began to complain about receiving criticism online for her anti-trans bigotry, Greer stood up and unfurled an LGBTQ pride flag. She said: “We’ve had dozens of trans people die this year because of the lies you’re spreading. Is this the future of the Internet we want? Are we building an Internet with free speech and safety for all people? Or just the privileged few?” The summit audience erupted in applause as she spoke.
In response, Mace went on a hateful tirade, saying among other things: “I love him, but his penis isn’t gonna be in my bathroom…”, “Women have a right to privacy without a man’s penis being in the room,” and referring to trans people like Greer, she said: “It’s a mental illness.”
When her co-panelist Ro Khanna voiced his disagreement with her views, Mace replied, “Why do you hate women?” The audience at the summit repeatedly booed as Mace hurled her bigotry, and at least one attendee left in solidarity as Greer was removed.
Mace has dominated headlines in recent days by introducing bigoted and undemocratic legislation explicitly targeting her Congressional colleague, representative-elect Sarah McBride, the first transgender person elected to US Congress. Since introducing legislation to ban trans people from safely using bathrooms in the US Capitol, Mace has gone on a series of hate-filled rants online.
Rep. Mace has no significant background in tech policy or Internet regulation. Beyond a desire to cozy up to bigots and pander to the far right, it’s unclear why she was invited to speak at the summit, which was organized by Project Liberty, a group funded by billionaire Frank McCourt. The event is also sponsored by the Omidyar Network.
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Evan Greer (she/they) is a transgender activist, writer, and musician based in Boston. She’s the director of Fight for the Future, the viral digital rights group known for organizing the largest online protests in human history against Internet censorship and surveillance and in support of net neutrality. Evan writes regularly about technology and LGBTQ issues for outlets like the Washington Post, CNN, Time, Wired, and NBC News, and her music has been featured by Rolling Stone, Billboard, and NPR. For inquiries, contact press@fightforthefuture.org