Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Right-wing writer speaks at school which ejected him
Head teacher defends policy of free speech
The Simon Langton boys’ school is defending its decision to offer a speaking platform to an ex-pupil who makes his living as a provocative right-wing commentator.
Milo Yiannopoulos – expelled from the Canterbury grammar school 15 years ago – will address sixth formers on Tuesday as part of the Langton’s series of lectures on social, political, economic and cultural issues.
The 32-year-old, who writes for the right-wing Us-based news website Breitbart, was invited to the school to speak on the election of Donald Trump as US president.
Milo, who touts himself as an openly gay conservative, posted on Facebook: “I’ve been invited back to speak at my old high school, Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys, which once upon a time expelled me for absolutely outrageous behaviour.
“The moral of the story is: success trumps everything!”
Later he told Kentonline: “We’ve come a long way since being gay was scandalous and legally dangerous. But apparently it’s still news when a gay man has sound conservative opinions as well as perfect hair. How tiresome!
“I look forward to explaining to Langton boys how identity politics, imported from America, is contributing to the rise of the far-right – which, by the way, hates me.”
Milo – who has been banned from Twitter – is described as a member of the alt-right, or alternative right, movement and directs many of his observations to events in America.
Over the course of this year he has argued that “gay rights have made us dumber”, birth control made women “unattractive and crazy”, and to women who suffered online harassment he said the solution was “to log off”.
He once opened a speech at the University of Massachusetts Amherst by saying: “Feminism is cancer.”
Milo’s announcement that he was to speak at the school was shared on the Canterbury Residents Group Facebook page, where it divided opinion.
Some rounded on the Langton, called for a protest and declared his views unsuitable for a young audience.
Others defended the school, arguing that its pupils are mature enough to make their own minds up.
Dr Matthew Baxter, the school’s head teacher, said Milo had been invited by the Langton Liberal Arts Society to give a talk on politics, the alt-right movement and this month’s recent US election.
He said: “Although a few people could be dismayed by our giving a platform to a journalist who has some ultra-right views, I would remind students, parents, colleagues and the greater community that the Langton is fully committed to free speech and open debate.
“This week we have Dr Stella Bolaki speaking on feminism, civil rights and LGBT issues.
“The Langton has always encouraged free speech and open debate.
“The Langton does not practise censorship, especially before an event or a speaker has even had a chance to present his or her views.
“We trust that our students will be able to use their reason to assail bad arguments and applaud sound ones.”
‘Apparently it’s still news when a gay man has sound conservative opinions as well as perfect hair. How tiresome!’
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