In a recent development, YouTube has confirmed the suspension of anti-trans pundit Posie Parker, also known as Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull, for violating the platform’s hate speech policy. Parker has gained notoriety for spreading anti-trans rhetoric and organizing controversial ‘Let Women Speak‘ events across the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. Disturbingly, one of these events saw the presence of neo-Nazis dressed in black, openly displaying Nazi salutes.
A recent incident in Navan, Ireland, where a 14-year-old gay schoolboy was brutally assaulted, sparked further controversy. Keen-Minshull took to Twitter and insinuated that the attack was a result of transgender people associating themselves with the LGBTQ+ community, suggesting a need to separate the LGB from the T. Her comments received backlash, with Keen-Minshull warning that those who tried to protect LGB children would not be spared from the backlash.
As a consequence of her hateful content, YouTube temporarily suspended Parker’s channel and removed her content, citing a violation of their hate speech policy. YouTube operates on a ‘three-strike’ system, with escalating penalties for policy violations. The first strike incurs a one-week suspension, the second a two-week suspension, and the third results in channel termination. This marks Parker’s second strike within a 90-day period, leading to her two-week suspension.
A spokesperson from YouTube clarified that the action was taken in line with their policy, which strictly prohibits content promoting violence or hatred against individuals or groups based on protected attributes. The hate speech policy encompasses various characteristics, including gender identity and sexual orientation. YouTube emphasized that their policies apply to all users without exception.
In response to her suspension, Keen-Minshull addressed her supporters in a Facebook video, blaming a trans-rights activist for repeatedly reporting her. Expressing frustration, she asserted that attempts to silence her voice would fail and dismissed the activist’s actions as ineffective. Keen-Minshull further claimed that the person responsible aimed to impede her communication with women, suggesting a prolonged absence from YouTube. The remainder of the video delved into promoting merchandise and expressing her views on parents’ rights.
Keen-Minshull argued that trans-rights activists oppose free speech, accusing them of being censorious authoritarians who fear challenges to their ideology. She accused them of aligning with the establishment and large corporations, which she believes facilitated her channel’s temporary ban. As of now, Keen-Minshull’s YouTube page remains active, boasting 80.6K subscribers, with her most recent livestream available for viewing published four days ago.
The incident involving Posie Parker’s suspension highlights the ongoing struggle to address hate speech and maintain a safe online environment. It underscores the challenges faced by platforms like YouTube in balancing freedom of expression with the responsibility to curb harmful content.