Dershowitz Sparks Debate at RealClear’s ‘Sammies’ Awards Dinner
– Alan Dershowitz drew both applause and boos at RealClear’s third annual Samizdat Awards, dubbed the ‘Sammies,’ held Wednesday at The Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida. The noted legal scholar publicly voiced his support for recognizing transgender rights, a position that contrasted sharply with remarks made by previous speakers at the event.
The evening, typically characterized by amicable agreement among honorees, took an unexpected turn following comments from Irish comedy writer Graham Linehan, who discussed the repercussions he’d faced in Britain for his views critical of transgender activism. Linehan’s remarks reportedly resonated with the largely right-of-center audience.
Dershowitz, upon taking the stage, immediately acknowledged the preceding discussion. “One thing I wanna do is congratulate this organization for giving the two of us an award, because I couldn’t disagree more about everything that was just said about transgender,” he stated, according to reports from the event. He continued, “I am completely in favor of recognizing transgender rights and acknowledging if people want to be a woman or a man, they can be that. I don’t believe God bestowed biological destiny on anybody.”
His statement was met with immediate vocal opposition from some attendees, who began to boo. Undeterred, Dershowitz responded, “Fine, boo me, but you gave me an award for my free speech and I’m gonna exercise my free speech!” This prompted a shift in the room’s atmosphere, with applause erupting alongside the continued booing.
The incident occurred during a panel discussion at the awards dinner, which celebrates individuals who champion free speech and open discourse. RealClear’s publisher, David DesRosiers, set the tone for the evening during his opening remarks, emphasizing the need for free speech and the free exercise of expression without government interference. He referenced the case of Don Lemon, stating that the journalist “should be treated as such” despite facing controversy, pausing to acknowledge a heckler in the audience.
The ‘Sammies’ honored Turning Point USA’s Andrew Kolvet, who accepted the Samizdat Prize on behalf of Charlie Kirk, in addition to Linehan and Dershowitz. The event highlighted the growing tensions surrounding discussions of gender identity and free speech, particularly within conservative circles. The audience’s reaction to Dershowitz’s comments underscored the complex and often divisive nature of these debates.
Dershowitz’s willingness to publicly defend transgender rights, even in the face of immediate disapproval, exemplifies the event’s stated commitment to fostering open dialogue and the exercise of free speech, regardless of the views expressed. The incident at the ‘Sammies’ serves as a microcosm of the broader cultural clashes occurring across the country regarding gender identity and the boundaries of acceptable discourse.
