Summarised by Centrist
A Canadian nurse has been fined over $93,000 and suspended from practising for one month, because she publicly supported women’s rights to female-only spaces.
Amy Hamm, a nurse and educator with 13 years’ experience, was disciplined by the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives after she co-sponsored a 2020 Vancouver billboard that read “I ♥ JK Rowling.”
The message, a reference to Rowling’s views on women’s rights and biological sex, prompted complaints from activists and a Vancouver city councillor, who accused Hamm of transphobia.
What followed was a years-long investigation into Hamm’s social media posts, podcasts, and writing. A 332-page report was produced. Twenty-two hearing days were held. In the end, the College found that just four of Hamm’s statements counted as “unprofessional conduct.”
Hamm was hit with a one-month licence suspension and a legal bill of $93,639.80.
“The College has chosen to punish me for statements that are not hateful, but truthful,” said Hamm. “I’m appealing because biological reality matters, and so does freedom of expression.”
Her lawyer, Lisa Bildy, said the ruling was “unsound,” warning that it sends a chilling message to professionals. “This decision effectively penalises a nurse for expressing mainstream views aligned with science and common sense,” she said. “The Panel’s ruling imposes a chilling effect on free expression for all regulated professionals.”
The penalty has sparked outrage in free speech circles and women’s rights groups, who argue that it’s another example of professional bodies punishing dissent.
Read more over at The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms
