It is with great sorrow that I make this video, but I haven’t really got a choice. I’ve
just got back from Texas, and despite a very sour bite to end the meal, I’ve had a truly
amazing time. I spoke at the Faithless Forum, fired some guns, threw axes, and even rode
my first mechanical bull. But the highlight for me (outside of meeting many outstandingly
wonderful people) was being a guest at the Atheist Community of Austin. You see, my interest
in atheism and scepticism began by watching YouTube clips of Matt, Tracie, Don, Jen, Russell
and Jeff wielding logic that was, at the time, far beyond my understanding, and so when I
was featured as a guest on The Atheist Experience, and was literally sat next to THE Matt Dillahunty
as we achieved the greatest all-time live-viewership in the history of the show, I felt incredibly
humbled. I literally fulfilled a dream. The community that taught me that free thinking
is a virtue, and that I ought to question everything (no matter how emotionally attached
I am) just featured little old me, Stephen Woodford, as a guest-host. Honestly, it was
one of the best days of my life. But once I left the ACA’s warm hospitality to fly
back to England, their Board of Directors released a public statement denouncing me
as “transphobic” and heavily implied that I’m opposed to the LGBT+ community… which,
as anyone who’s watched more than a handful of my videos will tell you, is slanderous
hogwash. I’ve defended the LGBT+ community countless times throughout my short career,
and whenever a religion or anyone denigrates them I point it out and crush it where it
stands. I mean, I even have a video in which I explain precisely why homosexuality is natural,
and I frequently emphasise, while many won’t, the fact that a significant amount Muslims
harbour harmful anti-LGBT+ views that desperately need to be addressed… Now, to be as clear
as I possibly can, I know that I made a few big mistakes within my recent video on transgender
athletes, and as I’ve stated publically, I am working on a video in which I express
my altered views and apologise for what I got wrong, but that’s the thing… I was
WRONG on some things… not transphobic. I have no issue whatsoever with transgender
people, and I have, and will continue, to try and foster an environment that accepts
them for who they are, and anyone who’s paying attention knows this. However, I also
believe that there are difficult issues that need to be discussed, and I firmly believe
that those who’re labelling anyone that recognise these issues as “transphobic”
are being counterproductive. Anyhow, yesterday, the ACA, and its productions, published a
statement from their board of directors, in which they accused me of making transphobic
videos (despite the fact that I’ve only made one video), and they claimed that I’ve
published numerous transphobic statements on my social media platforms, though, they
neglected to provide any examples, because, to put it bluntly, there isn’t any. Not
one. Zero. Indeed, an organisation that prides itself on free thought and substantiating
their views, exercised neither of these values when they denounced me. You know, it’s so
painful to see an atheist organisation wielding what stinks of religious dogma. Just as the
religious brand me a “heretic” for not sharing their views, the ACA has branded me
“transphobe” for not sharing theirs. Now evidently, some of the ACA’s staff and members
felt it was necessary to distance the ACA from me because they either didn’t agree
with my views or they found me and my views to be abhorrent, and while I understand that
the ACA had to make its position clear, they could’ve done so easily without throwing
me under a bus. They could’ve simply said that “We recognise there has been some controversy
surrounding Stephen Woodford’s position on transgender athletes, and we would like
to make it clear that the guests who appear on our show do not reflect the thoughts and
opinions of the ACA. We understand that his views have changed, and we are eagerly awaiting
his next response.” That, or something like that, would’ve been far more professional
than making unsubstantiated accusations. But no, the ACA responded with a full denouncement
of me, and expressed regret for all the (quote) “pain and anguish” they’ve caused by
allowing me to guest-host some of their shows. And so, the ACA, by being reactionary, uncharitable
and unskeptical, put me in the same category as actual transphobes, and I honestly believe
that vilifying one of their supporters hurts the trans community far more than my honest
mistakes (which, again, I’ve made clear that I’m going to fix). What’s more, the
ACA’s following statements of “We would like to make it clear that we do not share
or condone his opinions or attitudes, and that we fully and actively support equal rights
for the LGBTQIA+ community”, and “We love the trans community and are deeply distressed
to have caused anyone harm. We have let you down, and we intend to do our best to earn
back your trust”, is, to me incredibly offensive, because it heavily implies that I’m against
the LGBT+ community, which is demonstrably not true. … This whole ordeal saddens me
so deeply, and for many reasons. I don’t just feel like the ACA has abandoned me, I
feel like the ACA has abandoned itself. This reactionary and unreasonable denouncement
of me has crushed me. I feel like I’ve been used, and that I’ve been thrown under a
bus immediately after appearing on record-breaking shows for the sake of appeasing a few hypersensitive
individuals. Now, with this said, I want to make something crystal clear: I know for a
matter of fact that there are many people within the ACA that do not agree with board’s
statement, and so please be sure NOT to vent your frustration at the ACA’s public figures,
as they’re not responsible for the board’s statement, and they do not necessarily endorse
it. Honestly, I wish the ACA all the best because they’re a refuge and cornerstone
of reason to countless people in Austin, and indeed the world. My hope is that this event
causes serious reflection among their board of directors, because I think this all ends
in one of two ways. Either rationality will again take the helm, and in which case the
ACA will once again embody the values that made in so famous and respected, or, irrationality
will remain in control, and in which case the ACA will go the way of many other “sceptical”
communities… that is, they will denounce anyone who doesn’t share their views, no
matter how respectful they are, as a “heretic”, which will eventually cause irreparable damage
to their community. I sincerely hope, with all of my heart, that it’s the former. If
any of you want to help, then please email the ACA and let them know your thoughts. But
please, be sure not to demonise them in the same way that they’ve demonised me, because
most at the ACA are truly wonderful people who’ve done an insurmountable amount for
atheists. Messaging them in any way other than in a charitable, kind, calm and respectful
manner will only do more harm than good. And no matter what the outcome of this is, I want
to thank you all so, so much for your support, especially considering how large and influential
the ACA is. It honestly means a great deal to me, and it’s truly encouraging. As I
said earlier, I’ll shortly be publishing a video in which I acknowledge my mistakes…
a lesson, by the way, that I learnt from the old ACA… and here’s me hoping that current
ACA can do the same.