When a young woman reporter from the conservative education news site Campus Reform went to a feminist conference, she was told she was not welcome there.
Katherine Timpf attended the National Young Feminist Leadership Conference (NYFLC) where she attempted to interview attendees regarding their opinions about feminism. At first people were willing to speak with her, but when they were informed that Campus Reform is a conservative organization, students and organizers refused to talk.
“You guys aren’t wanted here,” one student told Timpf.
Others walked away when told where Timpf worked.
“I thought this was supposed to be an inclusive thing, why am I being excluded because of where I work?” Timpf asked an organizer.
“Because the place that you work is not inclusive,” the organizer said. Timpf responded, “You don’t know that. You don’t know anything about me or my personal beliefs; I’m just being labeled and singled out based on a label.”
The event description proclaims, “Everyone is welcome at NYFLC! That means folks from all regions, origins, genders, and backgrounds.”
The FAQ page for Feminist Campus, the organization that hosted NYFLC, says, “We will not tolerate, allow, or encourage behavior which makes folks feel uncomfortable, threatened, or demoralized.” Feminist Campus adds that “all of our workshops and panels will be structured around inclusivity and with a focus on representing various perspectives and experiences.”