Berklee College of Music: Administration Indefinitely Postpones Student Event on Transgender Issues

On October 20, 2024, Berklee College of Music student Simon Amaya Price planned to host an event titled “Born in the Right Body: Desister and Detransitioner Awareness”, intended to raise “awareness of trans desisters and detransitioners,” the issues they “face legally, societally, and medically,” and foster “open dialogue and debate[.]” After students garnered almost 2000 signatures on a petition urging the college to cancel the event because of the alleged “harm” to “individuals in the transgender community,” Berklee Vice President and Executive Director Ron Savage indefinitely “postponed” the event. FIRE wrote Berklee on November 1, explaining that Berklee’s commitment not to “engage in censorship” prohibits it from postponing Amaya Price’s event simply because others found the idea of the event offensive. We urged Berklee to ensure Amaya Price could host his event as soon as possible. On November 22, Berklee replied, insisting the event was postponed due to safety and logistical concerns. FIRE replied to Berklee on December XX, explaining that Berklee’s failure to point to any specific threat suggests it postponed the event because of opposition to Price’s viewpoint.