The university’s philosophy department hosted an event, “Debating Sex: Is Biological Sex Binary?” on Mar. 6, featuring two professors from other academic institutions with opposing views on the binary nature of sex.

In response to the event, the university received backlash from students and registered student organizations (RSOs). Two RSOs, the Lavender Programming Board and Sunrise Newark, hosted a counter-event at the same time in the Center for Intercultural Engagement at Perkins Student Center. 

The counter-event featured state Rep. Mara Gorman (D-Newark) as a guest speaker to discuss LGBTQ+ rights in Delaware. Gorman has been representing the 23rd District for the past two years and recently announced her candidacy for state senator in the 8th District, a position currently held by State Sen. David Sokola, who is not seeking re-election.

When asked, Gorman expressed her belief in academic freedom, but also her disdain for the event that the university hosted.

“In terms of hosting the event, I am a believer in academic freedom and freedom of speech,” Gorman said. “So they are entitled to have an event, have anyone who they want to come to campus and also to title it how they would like to, but just because you have that freedom doesn’t mean you should use it in that manner. And I think the name of the event was very unfortunate and triggering and upsetting.”

Emma Abrams, the president of Sunrise Newark and senior environmental and resource economics major, outlined the purpose of the counter-event.

“We didn’t want the narrative to be dominated by bigotry, and by ‘let’s debate trans people’s right to exist,’” Abrams said. “We wanted there to be a space and a counter-narrative for ‘trans people can just exist,’ and queer people can just come and not have to explain themselves.”

Protestors felt that the event should not have been held as a debate, arguing that the existence of intersex, transgender or any LGBTQIA+ individuals should not be considered a debate topic. 

“In general, this is not a debate,” Victoria Silva, co-president of the Lavender Programming Board and senior pre-veterinary science major, said. “It’s a conversation that you can have, like absolutely have this conversation. But we’re not debating people’s lives.”

In response to student protests, philosophy department chair Joel Pust spoke at the event before it began and affirmed students’ right to protest, but felt disappointed by the calls to cancel the event. Before the opening speeches, he defended hosting the event, arguing that it was strictly about whether biological sex is binary, not gender.

“The main criticism I’ve seen is that debating this topic is somehow harmful to people,” Pust said in his opening comments. “I should emphasize we’re debating whether biological sex is binary, whether or not that relates to gender or gender identity, and how it would do so is an open question.”

Pust felt the debate was aligned with the responsibilities of the university.

“I think part of the job of a university is to get students to think hard about controversial issues,” Pust said. “I think it’s the job of a university and especially the philosophy department to expose students to a variety of opinions and a variety of arguments.”

The department invited Professor Agustín Fuentes from Princeton University’s anthropology department to argue against the concept of biological sex as a binary. 

Fuentes specializes in biological and evolutionary anthropology, biocultural anthropology, multispecies relations, race and racism, sex and gender and human evolution. 

During the debate, Fuentes referenced many of his ideas from a book he published in May 2025, “Sex is a Spectrum: The Biological Limits of the Binary,” and used it as a foundation for many of his arguments.

Fuentes expressed his support for the protesters and praised the students who attended the event.

“I’m really happy with the students’ questions, participation and engagement,” Fuentes said. “I think from what I know about the protests, I actually support them and I really would hope that the students here at the University of Delaware continue to think about this stuff, continue to act on this stuff and don’t let this topic sit.”

The department also brought in Professor Tomás Bogardus, a professor of philosophy in the religion and philosophy division of Pepperdine University. Bogardus focuses on topics such as the relationship between the mind and body, the existence of God, whether Christians and Muslims worship the same God, the nature of knowledge and the nature of gender. 

During the debate, Bogardus argued using concepts from a book he published in September 2025, “The Nature of the Sexes: Why Biology Matters.”

Bogardus said that he was impressed with the students who attended the event but ambivalent toward any student protests on campus.

“I was not aware there was an alternative event,” Bogardus said. “I wasn’t aware of student protests. Overall, I was impressed with the students who did show up.”

During the question-and-answer portion of the debate, many of the audience members’ questions addressed the biological aspects of the debate, as well as the logic and methodology of Bogardus’ arguments.

At the event’s reception, attendees expressed mixed feelings. However, many felt that the conversation was very civil and of value to them.

Senior art conservation major and anthropology minor Rowan Orenstein felt that students who were protesting the event misunderstood what was going to be debated.

“I know it’s been a controversial topic on campus right now, and I think a lot of that has to do with misunderstanding what it was that’s getting debated,” Orenstein said. “People were upset that it’s, you know, debating student identity, and I’m non-binary. So in that case, I should be mad that they would be debating my identity, but they’re not doing that.”