Twitter has permanently banned Lindsay Shepherd, a high profile Canadian free speech proponent, for engaging in “abusive behavior” against transgender activist Jessica Yaniv.
"Yaniv mocked a reproductive abnormality I have (a septate uterus), and so I replied saying ‘at least I have a uterus, you fat ugly man.’"
Shepherd, a former teaching assistant at Wilfrid Laurier University, shot to prominence in 2017 after she secretly recorded audio of her superiors berating her for using a debate by Dr. Jordan Peterson as an example of compelled speech in her classroom. Following widespread coverage of her case, Shepherd started a Twitter account and YouTube channel to discuss controversial topics including transgenderism, which led her to her online altercation with Yaniv earlier this week.
Yaniv is infamous for having lodged over a dozen frivolous human rights complaints against aestheticians in Canada for their refusal to provide bikini waxing services to a biologically male individual. Most of Yaniv’s targets are immigrants of various Asian descent.
Yaniv, whom Lindsay Shepherd refers to as “JY” in her videos, previously reported the free speech activist’s Twitter account for bringing to light leaked chat logs in which the transgender Yaniv allegedly expressed their desire to learn how to approach prepubescent girls in public restrooms. Shepherd was previously suspended for the tweets.
The transgender activist previously reported tweets by feminist journalist Meghan Murphy, whom Twitter banned for referring to Yaniv with a male pronoun. Murphy argues that gender self-identification undermines women’s rights to female-only spaces.
[caption id="attachment_179602" align="aligncenter" width="1920"]
Jessica Yaniv's Twitter Account[/caption]
In a back-and-forth argument between Yaniv and Shepherd this week, the transgender activist hurled misogynistic insults at Shepherd and her infant son, with remarks about Shepherd’s genitalia and uterus.
Shepherd clarified that despite having deleted her tweets, her account was nevertheless suspended.
“I replied that this is something a man who has no functional romantic relationships with women would say, but that, I guess that describes him pretty well. Then, Yaniv mocked a reproductive abnormality I have (a septate uterus), and so I replied saying ‘at least I have a uterus, you fat ugly man.’ I thought, ‘I can’t allow him to make these misogynistic remarks about me and not fight back.’ I deleted the comments I made this morning but found out was suspended in the afternoon,” said Shepherd in an interview with The Post Millennial.
Shepherd echoed her remarks in a YouTube video explaining her side of the situation. She has since removed the video. Shepherd clarified that despite having deleted her tweets, her account was nevertheless suspended.
Twitter has since denied Shepherd’s appeal on grounds that her conduct was unacceptable conduct on the social media platform. Twitter’s decision to ban Shepherd and allow Jessica Yaniv a continued presence on the platform reveals an ugly double standard. It’s one that suggests it is okay for transgender persons to make misogynistic remarks about women and their children, but that any likeminded response will be met with a suspension or permanent ban.
Yaniv is celebrated Shepherd’s ban with a picture of the account suspension and the caption: “BYE Felicia!”
Ian Miles Cheong is the managing editor of Human Events
