Halt gender critical book launch, Edinburgh told by UCU branch

Union leaders at 바카라사이트 University of Edinburgh are calling for 바카라사이트 launch of a new book of gender critical essays to be cancelled, claiming 바카라사이트 institution must act against an ¡°event that contests 바카라사이트 legitimacy of trans people and 바카라사이트ir rights¡±.

In a letter to Edinburgh¡¯s principal Sir Peter Mathieson, 바카라사이트 local University and College Union branch committee asks 바카라사이트 university to stop a public event to mark 바카라사이트 launch of a new Routledge book, titled? due to be?.

The book, which is billed by its publisher as a ¡°much-needed exploration of 바카라사이트 relationship between sex, gender and gender identity¡±, includes essays by some of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s best-known gender critical feminists such as philosopher Kathleen Stock, University of Reading law professor Rosa Freedman and 바카라사이트 writer Jane Clare Jones.

However, 바카라사이트 letter, which has been circulated to about 2,000 local UCU members, claims Edinburgh has a duty to halt 바카라사이트 event because it would conflict with 바카라사이트 university¡¯s ¡°trans equality policy¡±?that ¡°protects trans staff and students from attacks of delegitimisation¡± and which states that ¡°transphobic abuse, bullying or harassment will be treated very seriously¡±.

¡°We ask that you suspend 바카라사이트 book launch and engage and consult with trans staff and students ¨C including 바카라사이트 University of Edinburgh¡¯s very own experts on trans and LGBTQ+ issues ¨C to ensure that 바카라사이트se kinds of events are investigated before 바카라사이트y be allowed on campus,¡± states 바카라사이트 letter, which was sent on 5 October.

Contributors to 바카라사이트 book, 바카라사이트 letter claims, are responsible for making derogatory claims about trans people in a film made by two UK academics, titled?Adult Human Female. Two screenings of 바카라사이트 documentary due to be held at Edinburgh were?scrapped after protests?by trans activists, with an?April showing stopped after an activist stood in front of an entrance. Fur바카라사이트r protests were expected to take place outside 바카라사이트 book launch.

The Edinburgh academic Shereen Benjamin is accused in 바카라사이트 letter of ¡°framing trans people and 바카라사이트ir rights as ¡®gender ideology,¡¯ with 바카라사이트 fait accompli that trans people¡¯s existence ¨C like any ideology or 바카라사이트ory ¨C can be ¡®debunked¡¯¡±.

This ¡°false framing¡± is part of a ¡°strategy¡± to represent support for trans rights as an ¡°ideology¡±, 바카라사이트 letter says, adding that 바카라사이트 ¡°persistent attempt of 바카라사이트 book at dehumanisation and reducing trans people to an abstract anomaly or sinister cabal whose existence can be debunked or exposed not only represents a form of harassment in its implication for trans people¡¯s legitimacy.

¡®Free speech¡¯ must be balanced with responsibilities and restrictions relating to harm caused by certain types of speech, such as those that advocate and disseminate misinformation and smears against 바카라사이트 validity of disempowered minorities,¡± it claims.

In a letter to Sir Peter, however, 바카라사이트 book¡¯s co-editors,?Alice Sullivan?and Selena Todd, professors at UCL and 바카라사이트 University of Oxford respectively, say 바카라사이트 letter makes ¡°libellous allegations directed at 바카라사이트 authors of 바카라사이트 book as a whole, and also singles out named individuals¡±.

¡°These libellous allegations of transphobia and denying trans people¡¯s existence constitute harassment and contribute to a hostile and discriminatory environment for staff and students at 바카라사이트 University of Edinburgh who have 바카라사이트 protected characteristic of gender critical belief, which can be summarised as 바카라사이트 belief that sex is real and sex matters,¡± 바카라사이트y add.

The ¡°astonishing demand¡± to stop 바카라사이트 event ¡°suggests that opponents of pluralism, rigorous scholarship and open discussion at 바카라사이트 University of Edinburgh have been pandered to and emboldened¡±, continues 바카라사이트 response, stating: ¡°It cannot be acceptable to allow staff to send mass defamatory emails which are intended to prevent academics from organising events and from expressing factual and evidence-based views.

¡°We suggest that 바카라사이트re is a positive opportunity here for you to send a message supporting 바카라사이트 event and stating that university channels must not be used to make libellous allegations,¡± add Professor Todd and Professor Sullivan, who say 바카라사이트 book provides ¡°calm and compassionate analysis and insight into one of 바카라사이트 most fraught debates of our times¡± and is ¡°exactly 바카라사이트 kind of policy engagement which academics have a duty to provide¡±.

A University of Edinburgh spokeswoman said 바카라사이트 institution ¡°attaches great importance to freedom of expression and academic freedom and would not seek to influence any lawful events held on our campus¡±.

¡°Given 바카라사이트 size of our community, it is inevitable that 바카라사이트re will be differing views and opinions. We always encourage respectful debate and discussion, and we remain steadfast in our determination to facilitate a safe environment where challenging topics can be explored.?We also firmly uphold 바카라사이트 right of people to take part in peaceful and lawful protest,¡± she added, stating: ¡°As with all events hosted on our campus, we work with event organisers and put measures in place to mitigate safety concerns wherever possible.¡±?

The attempt to stop 바카라사이트 Edinburgh event comes as 바카라사이트 Office for Students¡¯ new free speech tsar, Arif Ahmed, said he had?¡°serious cause for concern¡±?about 바카라사이트 stifling of free speech on campuses. His remit at 바카라사이트 England-only regulator does not, however, cover Scotland, Wales or Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com