The Issue

A woman recently aired a program on WORT 89.9 FM, a community radio station in Madison, Wisconsin. The program contained interviews of two other women who expressed concerns about the harms caused by “gender identity” ideology. Subsequently, a member of the local community took to social media, accusing the speakers of “hate speech,” and asked others to contact WORT to criticize the station for airing the program. But WORT needs to hear from others that biology is not “hate speech,” and that US residents’ right to free speech and freedom of the press are critical for living in a democratic society.

What You Can Do

Email and/or call the news director and the board president (contact information below).

Email Script

Dear Ms. Stentz (cc WORT Board President Mr. Devereaux-Weber),

I am aware that you might be receiving some push-back from members of your community for airing a program that presented some views that were critical of the doctrine of “gender identity.” I am writing to congratulate you for airing that program and to encourage you to air similar programs in the future. Please continue to protect free speech, a free press, and the exploration of diverse ideas and views, all of which are critical to a functioning democracy.

Concerns about the harm that “gender identity” ideology causes are reasonable and legitimate. “Gender identity” ideology denies the reality of biology. Harms caused by this denial include the violation of civil rights, homophobia, and the erosion of womens’ hard fought for sex-protected rights. To censor discussion of, or to mischaracterize concerns about these harms as “hate speech,” is an attack on freedom of speech.

Here are a few of the concerns that merit discussion:

Harm done to children’s and teens’ bodies when they are encouraged to take puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to try to make their bodies conform to “gender identity.” These drugs interfere with bone and brain development, cause permanent sterility and greater risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke and more. People critical of “gender identity” ideology want to see gender-non-conforming children and teens accepted and affirmed just as they are.

“Gender identity” ideology violates women and girls’ right to bodily privacy, the right of intersex people to not be mischaracterized as trans, and the right of African-Americans to not have the language and legitimacy of their 400-year-old struggle for civil rights be co-opted.

80% of gender-nonconforming children/teens grow up to be lesbian or gay, but with “gender identity” based medical interference they will never have the chance to discover this. This is profoundly homophobic.

“Gender identity” ideology is the only “rights” movement which violates the civil rights of others. Concerns about these violations cannot be accurately characterized as “hate speech.” To censor open discussion and exchange of information on the issue of “gender identity” ideology is an attack on our most fundamental right, the freedom of speech.

So, in sum, I applaud you for airing this program. We need more voices like this in the media. We need to be able to discuss “gender identity” ideology openly.

Please continue to foster and protect freedom of speech and a free press at WORT.

Thank you and sincerely,

[YOUR NAME OR “A CONCERNED RESIDENT”]

Phone Script

Hello.

It has recently come to my attention that you might be receiving some push-back from members of your community for airing a program that presented some views that were critical of “gender identity” ideology. I am writing to congratulate you for airing that program, to encourage you to air similar programs in the future, and to remind you that free speech and a free press are critical to a functioning democracy.

We need more voices like this in the media. We need to be able to discuss “gender identity” ideology openly. We need to have this discussion. Thank you for upholding and protecting freedom of speech.

[YOUR NAME OR “A CONCERNED RESIDENT”]

Targets

Copy/paste:

molly@wortfm.org, ddweber@wortfm.org

Or email/call them individually:



Molly Stentz

News Director

molly@wortfm.org

(608) 256-2001

David Devereaux-Weber

Board President

ddweber@wortfm.org