An externally-booked event on campus in June has prompted UBC community members to express their views on freedom of expression and academic freedom, and ask questions around the university’s commitment to equity and inclusion. This extends to the broader community including the Vancouver Pride Society, which has subsequently rescinded UBC’s institutional application for the Pride Parade for 2019. Although we will not be participating in the Parade as an institution, we are grateful that the Vancouver Pride Society has provided space for LGBTQ2SIA+ students, faculty and staff to march in the Pride Parade: equity.ubc.ca/prideparade.
UBC is deeply committed to the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion. We are aware that community members (particularly trans and non-binary students, faculty and staff) were personally affected by the June event. UBC remains committed to finding more ways to maintain a respectful environment for everyone in our community.
In consultation with the diverse LGBTQ2SIA+ communities at UBC, we will create mechanisms to seek-out and elevate the perspectives of our community members. We are committed to ensuring that marginalized voices are heard in discussions of freedom of expression and that their feedback is shared at both the Board and Senate levels.
The Equity & Inclusion Office will reconvene the Vice-Presidential Trans, Two-Spirit and Gender Diversity Working Group to bolster existing leadership and participation from people with trans and non-binary lived experience and/or expertise among the UBC community.
Andrew Szeri, Provost and Vice-President, Academic, UBC Vancouver
Sara-Jane Finlay, Associate Vice-President, Equity & Inclusion
For an additional perspective, please see President and Vice-Chancellor, Santa J. Ono’s response to the UBC community.