Selwyn College has defended keeping controversial comments under a Facebook post celebrating the start of LGBTQ+ history month on the grounds of freedom of speech.

Photos marking the start of Pride month were posted on Selwyn’s Facebook in February showing two JCR officers raising the Progress Pride Flag. The post then received a series of comments from Facebook users criticising the College’s flying of the flag.

One commenter wrote that they were “glad they are banning this ideology in the USA […] many children and adults were irreversibly harmed as part of transgender surgeries,” with another alleging that the College was “pandering to neo-Marxist authoritarianism. I would have hotly contested this in the JCR had I been a current undergraduate.”

A College spokesperson has defended the not restricting these comments, stating that “this is covered by freedom of speech, and decisions of the College can and should be subjected to scrutiny and challenge.”

Some commenters criticised those attacking the College’s post, with one user stating that “these comments have proved why Pride is still so important.”

According to minutes taken at a JCR meeting on Sunday 02/02, Selwyn JCR was concerned about the “types of comments” under the Facebook post, agreeing that it would be a “good idea” to “make clear that this rhetoric is not supported by Selwyn”. However, members disagreed as to whether or not they should respond with a statement.

While the LGBTQ+ officer said that the JCR has “a duty to protect the well being of students,” the vice-president said: “I am not sure a statement would be beneficial,” adding: “We don’t want to turn it into a flame war.” The president added that the JCR should “find a way to acknowledge what has happened and provide welfare support without legitimising or giving power to what is said.”

One ents officer suggested that comments which “go beyond just opinion” and are not “engaging with discussions” could be deleted. The JCR has not put out a statement regarding the comments and comments appear not to have been deleted.

This comes after Cambridge University implemented a new free speech code last year, which aimed to allow individuals “to question and test received wisdom,” including expressing “controversial or unpopular opinions within the law, without fear of intolerance or discrimination”. The new rules were based on the government’s Freedom of Speech Act, which was later paused by education secretary Bridget Phillipson over concerns it could enable hate speech.

A spokesperson for Selwyn College said: “The College flew the Progress Pride Flag. Some commenters criticised this on social media. This is covered by freedom of speech, and decisions of the College can and should be subjected to scrutiny and challenge. Others then joined the Facebook debate, vigorously challenging the critics – and that is also what free speech is all about.”