For many of us, the Lady Babylon channel on YouTube has been an invaluable resource for learning attic and classical Greek, while simultaneously offering critical insights into the narratives that shape major world religions. A sanctuary for knowledge and free thought, this channel empowers individuals to explore religion from an unbiased standpoint, enabling them to form their own informed opinions.

The channel is now under threat simply because it challenges certain entrenched narratives by shedding light on truths not commonly addressed. The freedom to learn and question established beliefs is paramount, especially in a world where diverse perspectives are crucial for fostering understanding and acceptance.

Lady Babylon has consistently provided free educational content, helping countless individuals around the world gain a deeper understanding of ancient languages and history. This access not only enriches personal growth but also cultivates a broader, more inclusive view of religious narratives. Such educational endeavors are vital for a healthy, open-minded society.

It is critical to protect channels that advocate for education and open discourse. Restricting this channel because its content is perceived as controversial is to suppress the very essence of freedom of speech. A society cannot thrive if voices that offer different perspectives are silenced.

The principles of YouTube must align with the protection of creative and educational voices, safeguarding them against unwarranted censorship. We urge YouTube to reconsider any plans to take down the Lady Babylon channel, and instead, reinforce its commitment to supporting diverse voices that encourage intellectual and cultural exploration. By preserving this channel, YouTube upholds its role in fostering a platform for free expression.

Please sign this petition to demonstrate your support for the Lady Babylon channel and advocate for its continued existence on YouTube. Together, we can ensure that education, critical thinking, and freedom of speech remain pillars of our digital community.

We call upon YouTube to protect the Lady Babylon channel and ensure that Dr Ammon Hillman’s work is judged fairly and solely according to YouTube’s published Community Guidelines—not according to whether individuals agree with, dislike, or are offended by his academic conclusions.

Lady Babylon is the YouTube channel of Dr David Charles Ammon Hillman, known publicly as Dr Ammon Hillman, a classically trained scholar whose work explores ancient Greek language, medicine, pharmacology, religion and the frequently uncomfortable world revealed by primary ancient texts.

Dr Hillman is not simply an internet commentator. He holds an M.S. in Bacteriology and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Classics from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and his academic research has been published in the scholarly journal Pharmacy in History. His interdisciplinary background brings together classical philology, Greek and Roman medical literature, microbiology, pharmacology and the history of medicine.

He is also the author of The Chemical Muse: Drug Use and the Roots of Western Civilization, Original Sin: Ritual Child Rape and the Church, and Hermaphrodites, Gynomorphs and Jesus: She-Male Gods and the Roots of Christianity. His work examines ancient terminology and texts that are frequently difficult, sexually explicit, pharmacological or religiously controversial.

Many people disagree strongly with Dr Hillman’s interpretations. They have every right to disagree.

But disagreement is not the same thing as a violation of YouTube's Community Guidelines.

Controversial scholarship has always provoked argument. That is precisely why intellectual freedom matters. Historical research cannot be limited only to interpretations that are comfortable, orthodox or popular. Scholars must be able to return to primary texts, question inherited translations and put forward interpretations that other scholars and members of the public are free to challenge.

Hillman’s distinctive contribution is his willingness to return repeatedly to the original Greek vocabulary and ask what words concerning pharmaka, medicine, ritual substances, sexuality, anointing and christos meant within their ancient linguistic, medical and cultural settings.

His conclusions are controversial and should remain open to scholarly criticism. But controversial ideas should be answered with evidence, translation, scholarship and debate—not through attempts to silence the person presenting them.

We Are Concerned About Repeated Attempts to Target Lady Babylon
Supporters of Lady Babylon have become increasingly concerned about what they describe as sustained attacks upon Dr Hillman and his channel by a small number of other YouTube channels—reportedly around three or four particularly hostile channels—whose creators strongly oppose his conclusions.

Criticism, rebuttal videos and vigorous debate are legitimate parts of free expression.

Attempts to remove an opposing voice merely because its conclusions are offensive, controversial or contrary to someone's religious or ideological beliefs are something very different.

We therefore ask YouTube to be particularly alert to the possibility of coordinated, retaliatory or ideologically motivated reporting and to ensure that complaints against Lady Babylon are evaluated according to the actual content complained of and the actual Community Guideline allegedly violated.

YouTube itself states that reporting content does not automatically cause that content to be removed. Reported material is reviewed against YouTube's Community Guidelines, and YouTube states that when reviewers find no violation, repeated reporting should not alter that determination.

That principle is extraordinarily important here.

Popularity must not determine truth. Offence must not determine scholarship. And the number of people reporting an unpopular opinion must never substitute for evidence that a genuine policy violation has occurred.

We are not asking YouTube to give Lady Babylon special treatment.

We are asking for equal treatment.

If any individual Lady Babylon video genuinely violates a clearly identified YouTube rule, it should be assessed in exactly the same way as material from every other creator.

But the channel should not be penalised because organised opponents dislike Dr Hillman, dislike his interpretation of Christianity, dislike his discussion of sexuality or ancient pharmacology, or regard his scholarship as offensive or blasphemous.

YouTube's own published enforcement system provides for review and appeal of Community Guidelines decisions, including reinstatement where content is ultimately found to comply with the Guidelines.

Controversial Scholarship Still Deserves a Voice
History is filled with ideas that were once regarded as unacceptable because they challenged established religious, scientific or cultural assumptions.

Freedom of inquiry does not mean that every interpretation is correct.

It means that interpretations must be examined, challenged and answered rather than erased simply because they are controversial.

Dr Hillman's work invites exactly that kind of examination. Readers and viewers can consult the Greek. Classicists can dispute his translations. Historians can challenge his reconstructions. Pharmacologists can challenge his conclusions. Theologians can dispute his interpretation of Christian texts.

That is how scholarship works.

Removing access to the discussion altogether prevents viewers from examining the evidence and deciding for themselves.

The Lady Babylon project now provides access not only to commentary but also to ancient Greek resources, dictionaries, texts and other material encouraging viewers to investigate primary sources themselves.

For many viewers, this is precisely what makes the channel valuable: it encourages people not merely to believe Dr Hillman, but to look at the language, examine the sources and participate in the argument.

Our Request to YouTube
We therefore respectfully ask YouTube:

Do not terminate, suppress or penalise the Lady Babylon channel merely because organised opponents repeatedly report it or object to Dr Hillman's controversial conclusions.

Examine any complaint individually.

Identify the specific content at issue.

Apply the Community Guidelines consistently.

Distinguish genuine violations from disagreement, religious offence, ideological hostility or scholarly controversy.

And where the content complies with YouTube's rules, allow it to remain available regardless of how controversial its conclusions may be.

People are free to disagree with Dr Ammon Hillman.

They are free to criticise him.

They are free to publish videos challenging every translation and every conclusion he has ever made.

They are free to say that he is wrong.

But disagreement should be answered with disagreement—not deletion.

A platform capable of hosting millions of competing opinions must protect the principle that unpopular and challenging ideas are assessed according to published rules rather than the intensity of opposition directed against them.

We ask YouTube to protect that principle.

• KEEP LADY BABYLON ON YOUTUBE.
  PROTECT SCHOLARLY DEBATE.
  PROTECT ACCESS TO PRIMARY SOURCES.
  DO NOT ALLOW MASS REPORTING TO BECOME DE FACTO CENSORSHIP.
  LET THE EVIDENCE BE HEARD—AND LET VIEWERS DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES.
  Please sign this petition and ask YouTube to ensure that Lady Babylon receives a fair, evidence-based and impartial review under the same Community Guidelines that apply to every creator.