Student suspended for saying “a man is a man, a woman is a woman”

“A man is a man, a woman is a woman. A man is not a woman, and a woman is not a man,” said a student from the State University of New York (SUNY). Owen Stevens voiced his opinion on social media, taking biological facts one by one to arrive at the conclusion that a woman can never become a man.

With this conclusion, the young man openly challenged gender ideology, something not everyone appeared to appreciate, including the university. Consequently, Owen has been suspended and cannot attend classes.

The leadership of the New York State University at Geneseo argued that the student failed to respect the institution’s rules and regulations by making his statements. It was found particularly objectionable that Owen continued to maintain his position that he would not recognise someone’s chosen gender identity if biologically they are not that gender. “This public position is in conflict with the Dignity for All Students Act requiring teachers to maintain a classroom environment protecting the mental and emotional wellbeing of all students,” the dean wrote.

In order to resume his studies, Owen Stevens would be required to complete a “remediation plan”, which includes taking down his videos on Instagram, becoming less involved on social media, and attending school-sanctioned training. Owen, however, squarely stated that he would not attend any re-education programmes.

A similar case involving freedom of opinion and expression has occurred in the state of Oklahoma. There, a teacher questioned a 13-year-old student because of his T-shirt, which featured the words “Black King” and the African continent on it. According to Latrell Taft, the teacher told him that “the world would be in an uproar if her shirt read white queen”, and people would call her a racist. The teacher noted that the school should also have a white history month, to which the black student replied that black people don’t have enough recognition as it is.

The boy also said the majority of his class sided with the teacher, calling his shirt racist. His mother told the KFOR-TV station that she immediately called the school but was initially “brushed off.” The school, however, released a statement a day later, saying it’s investigating the incident, is in contact with the parent, and will take appropriate and swift action if it’s determined that the student was the target of discrimination, bullying, or racism.

Latrell told the station that he wanted to go back to school after the incident, but not if the teacher is still working there. The boy says he was proud of his blackness and will not let anyone take it away from him. He added: “I’m a king because I think I’m a king.”

The school district sent the teacher on paid leave after the incident, and intends to decide soon on whether or not to initiate disciplinary proceedings against her.