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Aug 18, 2014
The co-founder of Vice and controversial writer, Gavin McInnes, was recently asked by his current company, Rooster, which he also founded, to take a leave of absence. To be asked to have a break from the company he founded, he must have done something pretty bad, right?
Yeah. Awful, actually.
McInnes is the author of a recent article on Thought Catalog which is a site dedicated to promoting the idea that everyone’s thoughts are relevant – not necessarily good but relevant. The article is one of the most transphobic posts we’ve ever seen. It uses outdated, hurtful and disrespectful words and ideas to say that being a transgender person makes you less than and mentally ill.
To read the article, click here, but fair warning, it’s pretty upsetting and we urge you not to take his words to heart – they’re just designed to hurt.
Now, it’s one thing to have free speech but it’s quite another to have hate-speech. There may be a fine line; people need their free speech protected and people need to be protected from hate speech, but there is definitely a line and McInnes crossed it. A representative of Rooster told AdWeek about McInnes being removed, “Gavin’s views are his own and do not represent those of the company or its members. We are extremely disappointed with his actions and have asked that he take a leave of absence while we determine the most appropriate course of action.”
This isn’t the first time that McInnes has spoken his mind and offended, like, everyone. In fact he seems to relish the opportunity to do so, his Twitter account, for example, is full of similar pearls of wisdom.
Just a little taster:
Women should be allowed to vote but most of them shouldn’t.
— Gavin McInnes (@Gavin_McInnes) August 7, 2014
We hate hate speech. We hate transphobia. We hate misogyny. What would you say to Gavin McInnes? How would you try to change his perception of the trans community?
Emily is the Community Manager of Dattch as well a part-time film reviewer and full-time cookie monster. She can’t walk in heels, is a cross-breed of Essex girl and Londoner and makes cupcakes like nobody’s business. Find further nonsense from Emily on Twitter @moulder5000
