The UCT is criticized for having hosted Chimamanda Adichie

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An announcement that UCT would host Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie for the Vice Chancellors’ Open Conference later this month has been criticized by the LGBTQ + community.

UCT Vice-Chancellor Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng announced on Friday that Adichie will virtually give VC’s opening lecture on Wednesday, July 28.

We look forward to this exciting conference where Adichies eloquence and perspective will inspire us all to look beyond stereotypes and social norms to recognize our common humanity, said Phakeng.

The conference announcement received a wave of negative responses.

Adichie has received criticism from members of the LGBTQ + community for comments she made in a 2017 interview with UK channel Channel 4 News.

In the interview, she was asked: does it matter how you became a woman? If you are a trans woman who grew up identifying as a man … does that stop you from becoming a woman, are you less of a real woman?

Adichie replied: When people talk about ‘Are trans women women? My feeling is that trans women are trans women.

UCT media liaison chief Nombuso Shabalala said Adichie apologized for her 2017 remarks, saying she would continue to advocate for the rights of transgender people.

When asked how the choice to host Adichie would affect its students and staff in the LGBTQ + community, UCT declined to comment.

In 2018, UCT launched its Inclusion Policy for Sexual Orientation which aims to create an environment that respects and celebrates the inclusion of sexually diverse staff and students on campus.

Lindy-Lee Prince, who earned a doctorate in anthropology from UCT last week, said that didn’t mean the university would invite Adichie to be a speaker.

This will prevent a lot of people from engaging in the work the VC is doing, Prince said.

Prince added: Students, activists and the SRC have done a lot of work to advance inclusiveness and to make trans and gender people more comfortable on campus.

It’s a slap in the face.

Anil Padavatan, program manager at Gender Dynamix, said that in the context of the upsurge in violence against the LGBTQ + community, UCT should consider the implications this could have.

We would prefer that a platform like this be given to someone who respects the human rights of all and who can speak out about the need for an inclusive feminist response to gender-based violence, Padavatan said.

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