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BIDDEFORD, Maine

David Smith interviewed for article on Slate.com

On June 3, 2014, Slate.com featured an article titled 鈥淗ow to Dehumanize a Trans Person in Three Simple Steps,鈥 in which David Livingston Smith, Ph.D., professor of philosophy, was quoted extensively.

The article, a reaction to Kevin D. Williamson鈥檚 piece in the National Review on actress Laverne Cox, seeks to explore three common ways (employed by Williamson) in which people dehumanize transgendered individuals.  The author of the article, Mark Joseph Stern, interviewed Smith, the author of Less Than Human: Why We Demean, Enslave and Exterminate Others.

When asked for his insights into why people feel compelled to dehumanize those who are transgendered, Smith responded: 鈥淢y very strong suspicion is that these people are insecure. They see trans people as a threat to their value systems, their frameworks, and develop a peculiar view laden with fear and ideology. And this view comes out in their propaganda.鈥

51小黄车 the University of 51小黄车

The University of 51小黄车 is Maine鈥檚 largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of . In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state鈥檚 top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine鈥檚 only medical college, Maine鈥檚 only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.