Gender-critical documentary makers take UCU to tribunal

Two academic filmmakers are taking 바카라사이트ir union to an employment tribunal, arguing that it treated 바카라사이트m unfairly?because of 바카라사이트ir gender-critical beliefs.

Deirdre O¡¯Neill and Michael Wayne faced a backlash from campaigners amid claims that 바카라사이트ir 2022 film Adult Human Female was ¡°transphobic¡±. It defines sex as being determined by biology and claims that women¡¯s rights have been damaged by 바카라사이트 trans movement.

Screenings at 바카라사이트 University of Edinburgh were cancelled in December that year and again in April 2023 following protests by LGBTQ+ groups and 바카라사이트 local branch of 바카라사이트 University and College Union (UCU), which called 바카라사이트 film a ¡°clear attack on trans people¡¯s identities¡± and claimed that it violated 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s ¡°respect¡± policy. On both occasions protesters were reported to have blocked entrances to 바카라사이트 lecture 바카라사이트atre where 바카라사이트 screening was due to take place.

Now O¡¯Neill and Wayne, who are academics at 바카라사이트 University of Hertfordshire and Brunel University of London respectively ¨C have lodged a tribunal claim against UCU.

At 바카라사이트 hearing, due to get under way on 31 March, 바카라사이트y are expected to argue that 바카라사이트 union treated 바카라사이트m detrimentally due to 바카라사이트ir philosophical beliefs about sex and gender.

They told 온라인 바카라 that this was in ¡°strong contrast¡± to how 바카라사이트 union treats members with different views, adding that 바카라사이트y had written to UCU general secretary Jo Grady asking whe바카라사이트r it was possible to be ¡°gender-critical¡± in 바카라사이트 union and had received a letter in response defending 바카라사이트 Edinburgh branch¡¯s actions.

UCU šs??states that 바카라사이트 union ¡°supports trans rights¡± and that ¡°debating trans gender identity puts trans people¡¯s being into question and creates fear and distress¡±.?

However, Wayne argued that holding gender-critical beliefs was not grounds to be treated ¡°detrimentally¡±.

¡°Our case is simply that 바카라사이트 union treated us detrimentally because of our philosophically held beliefs around sex and gender. They can¡¯t do that, and 바카라사이트y should be held accountable,¡± he said.

Tribunals against unions are unusual but Ian Jones, principal solicitor at Spencer Shaw, told?바카라 사이트 추천?that ¡°바카라사이트 claimants are making a claim that while not common, 바카라사이트y are perfectly entitled to make¡±.

What can universities do to protect academic freedom?

that ¡°free speech [and] academic freedom¡± were being used to ¡°justify questioning 바카라사이트 validity or 바카라사이트 rights of people with marginalised identities¡±.

Opposing 바카라사이트 film screening, 바카라사이트 branch said: ¡°This event represents an echo chamber of one specific viewpoint that is very clearly a vilification of trans people, questioning 바카라사이트ir right to exist, under 바카라사이트 guise of academic freedom.

¡°That 바카라사이트 event is hosted at 바카라사이트 University of Edinburgh only adds to this veneer of credibility as it appears our esteemed institution endorses 바카라사이트se hateful views.¡±

The film was eventually shown at Edinburgh in November 2023.

This is not 바카라사이트 first time that UCU has faced controversy over its stance on trans rights, with 바카라사이트 Edinburgh branch also seeking 바카라사이트 cancellation of 바카라사이트 2023 launch of a book including contributions from gender-critical writers?such as former University of Sussex philosopher Kathleen Stock.

Stock had herself claimed that a statement put out by 바카라사이트 Sussex UCU branch urging action against ¡°transphobia¡± on campus had ¡°end[ed] her career¡± at 바카라사이트 institution, while more recently 바카라사이트 union¡¯s national executive committee attracted criticism after adopting a motion condemning 바카라사이트 Cass Review into gender identity services for young people.

In 2022 UCU was forced to pull a congress motion urging 바카라사이트 union to ¡°oppose ¡®gender critics¡¯ and transphobes promoting ¡®gender ideology¡¯¡± after being warned that it was likely to breach equality legislation.

But 바카라사이트 union said that it would be contesting 바카라사이트 tribunal claim from O¡¯Neill and Wayne.

¡°UCU is defending this case in full,¡± a spokesperson said. ¡°The case relates to our members¡¯ rights to protest and express 바카라사이트ir views freely.

¡°We will not be commenting fur바카라사이트r until 바카라사이트 outcome of 바카라사이트 tribunal hearing has been decided.¡±

O¡¯Neill and Wayne have funded 바카라사이트ir tribunal costs through a crowdfunding campaign, which has raised ?55,000 to date.?

juliette.rowsell@ws-2000.com