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Main building of the Humboldt University in Berlin
Photo: Schoening / imago images
The Humboldt University (HU) has canceled a lecture by the biologist Marie Luise Vollbrecht.
As part of the »Long Night of the Sciences« on Sunday morning, the research assistant at the HU was to be given the title »Gender is not equal to gender.
Sex, gender and why there are only two sexes in biology«.
On the other hand, parts of the student body mobilized.
In an appeal by the "working group of critical lawyers at the Humboldt Uni Berlin" it said: "No stage for the co-author of statements of a "biological reality of dual gender"".
The circle called for protests during the lecture via Twitter: “There is no place for queer hostility at our university.
I'll see you on the street!'
Vollbrecht recently attracted attention as the co-author of a guest article in the "Welt", in which, under the title "How ARD and ZDF indoctrinate our children", it dealt with a "threatening agenda" of public broadcasting and the "misinformation of 'polysexuality' " went.
A post that sparked outrage.
And in the aftermath, the LGBTIQ+ job fair »Sticks&Stones« terminated its long-standing cooperation with Springer-Verlag - which in turn prompted Springer CEO Matthias Döpfner to comment that the article was intolerant, condescending and resentful, scientifically one-sided at best.
Police warning
The university justified the fact that the HU canceled the lecture of the controversial biologist at short notice with security concerns in view of the protest announcements.
A spokeswoman for "Welt" said that the police had informed them that a protest was planned for the doctoral student's appearance.
A counter-demonstration was also expected.
"We very much regret that Ms. Vollbrecht cannot give the lecture," Birgit Mangelsdorf, the university's head of communications, told the newspaper.
Vollbrecht told the "Bild" that the cancellation made her "sad".
"
The cave-in to radical violent activists who don't understand biology is understandable but alarming."
It is no longer possible to speak of an objective debate "when events are canceled for fear of violence".
The incident is another example of “the radical means that gender ideologues use”.
The university rejected the accusation of censorship: "We welcome the exchange here, even between the most different opinions," said Mangelsdorf.
The decision is not a statement of content, but serves solely to ensure safety.
We will try to catch up on the lecture in the future.
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