Derrick Jensen is an American environmentalist and author. Jensen is a founder of environmental organization Deep Green Resistance, a radical feminist group that has been criticized for anti-transgender views.
Background
Jensen was born on December 19, 1960. Jensen earned a bachelor’s degree from Colorado School of Mines in 1983 and a master’s degree from Eastern Washington University in 1991.
In 2011, Jensen, Lierre Keith, and Aric McBay founded Deep Green Resistance. McBay left due to the organization’s positions on transgender people.
Anti-transgender views
Jensen’s concerns center around postmodernism and queer theory. Jensen believes these theories are attempts to justify nonconsensual sex with minors. Jensen also claims any dissent from acceptable views will lead to cancelation:
This is the cult-like behavior of the postmodern left: if you disagree with any of the Holy Commandments of postmodernism/queer theory/transgender ideology, you must be silenced on not only that but on every other subject. Welcome to the death of discourse, brought to you by the postmodern left.
Jensen has laid out these anti-trans views in a number of essays and posts:
- The Emperor’s New Penis
- Liberals and the New McCarthyism
- Letter to a Publisher: On the Destruction of Discourse and the Cult of the Postmodern Left
Derrick Jensen Resistance Radio
Jensen is host of a show that has included many environmentalists, some trans-inclusive feminists, and anti-transgender activists:
- Julie Bindel
- Cathy Brennan
- Natasha Chart
- Kara Dansky
- Gail Dines
- Heather Heying
- Sheila Jeffreys
- Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull / Posie Parker
- Hilla Kerner
- Jennifer Lahl
- Kathleen “Kelly” Levinstein
- Graham Linehan
- Vajra Ma
- Karla Mantilla
- Meghan Murphy
- Wendy Murphy – Women’s and Children’s Project
- Andrea Orwoll
- Caitlyn Roper
- Amy Sousa
- Bret Weinstein
References
Mortensen, Camilla (March 8, 2018). Controversial Speaker Sparks Outcry. Eugene Weekly https://eugeneweekly.com/2018/03/08/controversial-speaker-sparks-outcry/
Houlberg, Laura (2017). “The End of Gender or Deep Green Transmisogyny?”. Routledge Handbook of Gender and Environment. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-315-88657-2.
Borden, Mitch (29 March 2016). Transphobes Still Welcome at Public Interest Environmental Law Conference. It’s Going Down https://itsgoingdown.org/transphobes-still-welcome-public-interest-environmental-law-conference/
Taft, Molly (9 February 2022). The Environmental Movement Isn’t Ready for Transphobia. Gizmodo
Borden, Mitch (15 January 2018). Environmental group protested for being transphobic. Gizmodo https://gizmodo.com/the-environmental-movement-isn-t-ready-for-transphobia-1848505309
Pellow, David Naguib (2019). Eco-Defence, Radical Environmentalism and Environmental Justice. Routledge Handbook of Radical Politics. Routledge. p. 112. ISBN 9781315619880.
Holzman, Jael (6 February 2022). How a fight over transgender rights derailed environmentalists in Nevada. Politico https://www.politico.com/news/2022/02/06/nevada-transgender-rights-environmentalists-lithium-00001658
Hill, Jessica (4 March 2022). News reports to the contrary, opposition to proposed Northern Nevada lithium mine continues. Las Vegas Sun https://lasvegassun.com/news/2022/mar/04/news-reports-to-the-contrary-opposition-to-propose/
Staff report (June 16, 2022). We can’t ignore Big Pharma’s interests in Australia’s transgender industry. Women’s Forum Australia https://www.womensforumaustralia.org/we_can_t_ignore_big_pharma_s_interests_in_australia_s_transgender_industry
Rothblatt, Martine (2011). From Transgender to Transhuman. A manifestation. transreads.org
Bernstein, David (June 23, 2022). Is Jennifer Bilek’s article in Tablet antisemitic and transphobic? Times of Israel https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/is-jennifer-bileks-article-in-tablet-antisemitic-and-transphobic/
Moore, Mallory (20 March 2021). ALERT: Transphobic feminism and far-right activism rapidly converging. Trans Safety Network https://transsafety.network/posts/gcs-and-the-right/
Media
Loughrey, Helen (July 14, 2022). An Interview with Derrick Jensen about Queer Theory [Bright Green Lies]. https://criticaltherapyantidote.org/2022/07/14/an-interview-with-derrick-jensen-about-queer-theory/
Graham Linehan (Jan 21, 2021). Interview with Lierre Keith of WOLF and Derrick Jensen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALeWZWs66RU
Jensen, Derrick (Sep 17, 2020). Queer Theory Jeopardy!!! with Professor Derrick Jensen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-NseFg2kno
Jensen, Derrick (Jun 6, 2021). Graham Linehan—Trans grooming of children & society. Resistance Radio https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82d2ov0EY4o
Resources
Derrick Jensen (derrickjensen.org)
Deep Green Resistance (deepgreenresistance.org)
Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)