Anyone else work at a Uni?

That's a lie, isn't it? A group has indicated that they plan to challenge the SC judgment at the ECHR, but it's not the case that it is actually under appeal.

Perhaps they have got their acronyms muddled deliberately? If they were saying that they were waiting for the EHRC full guidance that would be one thing, but the ECHR case is a very long way off and may never happen. They will be required to implement the law once the EHRC guidance is out and not sit around waiting for an appeal that may not be granted.

The ECHR cannot overrule the Supreme Court in any case, is my understanding. The Labour government would have to agree to abide by its finding - imagine what it would do to their electoral chances if they were to voluntarily overlook the judgment of the highest court in the UK and abide by a European interpretation of our own laws. What a gift to Reform that would be.

So at my place, we've now had the message from the VC, about the Supreme Court ruling, noting that it "is currently under appeal at the European Court of Human Rights". Which is sooo craven.

Named groups are "trans and non-binary members of our community" while "other members of our community may also seek clarity about their rights."

So so bull shit. I am composing an email to the VC as we speak. Any good ammunition any of you have used?

I noticed this article in the Telegraph and it seems a good fit for this thread, Prof. Jo Phoenix gets a mention

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/05/24/oxford-university-demands-candidates-back-diversity/

https://archive.ph/dMa6z

It's not just Oxford, they're just one of the worst. It annoys and saddens me. I used to think 'diversity' meant everyone would get a fair crack of the whip. Not that there'd still be a whip but it would be used to silence diversity of thought.

Jo Phoenix on twitter

https://x.com/JoPhoenix1/status/1926205665237733740

Calling: UK uni employees. DM or email me at UoR answers w/ name ur uni: 1. Did your University permit men to self-identify into the category 'woman'? Has policy now been revoked? 2. What has ur uni said about FWS if anything and process of implementing it? Pls RT

Oh, I do think that little queries can be useful. After the judgment, I wrote to a sports club which asked for ‘gender’ (including non-binary) at registration. I pointed out to them that this meant I wouldn’t be able to register as I don’t have a gender identity. I expected to be ignored but apparently they are looking into it now …

I responded to a recent ‘ask the exec anything’ survey and pointed out that the recent comms re: the SC has very much been focused on lgbt feelings and not women’s. Lo and behold in today’s completely useless school update there was a link from the EDI lead about the ruling that actually included signposting to the women’s network (for the first time ever). A win except the women’s network in our uni is completely captured and includes anybody who identifies as a woman, so no I won’t be going there to vent. I’m wondering though if my little anonymous act (and maybe there are others) has made them think.

Thanks, that’s what I think. I sort of wish I’d kept my mouth shut but they started a conversation.

It’s not just your belief, it is what underpins UK equality law (which recognises only two sexes) and you can tell your work bully that he or she can read the judgment and stop bothering you with his or her beliefs which are based in neither law nor reality.

If I say at work that I believe sex is binary, and people start to question me and try to change my mind, and get angry with me, would this constitute harrasment?

I’ve talked it over with one person and this is what’s happened. I’ve asked them not to question me again, it’s just my believe.

That’s exactly how I imagine it too, I was actually going to say that it would be like The Purge 😂

The Jo Phoenix tribunal was awash with these types.

Ah ha ha, the anti-carceral feminists! The ones I have met are complete numpties who would break out into tears if confronted with fairly minor interpersonal aggression. Similar personality profile as female pro-sex work academics. They’ll never have sex for money and they’ll never go to prison and deep down they know this.

That was basically how the conference went.

Posh middle class academics spoke about how everything was awful, prisons were oppressive and nobody in the prison service gave a shit.

They were then surprised that the group of largely working class prison officers, all of whom cared very deeply about this issue and making prisons better, got upset.

Have you seen The Purge? That's how I imagine it. On the plus-side, the weakling non-binary types would be the first to be picked off, I'm sure.

I’ve asked people before who favour abolishing prisons/the police how exactly society would work - they don’t seem to have the answers. It’s a completely elitist luxury belief. The people who would suffer most are the poor and marginalised.

There's a large group of 'anti-carceral' academic criminologists who think there shouldn't be any prisons at all.

I went to a conference with some of these academics and a bunch of prison service staff.

Things got so heated the prison officers walked out.

Do they actually think male sex offenders should be in female prisons? Male police officers strip search women?

I really don't think they think it through. Or they say that these are exceptions. Because ...
they just really invested in the theory that sex differences do not exist and if they did, they have to be erased

Yes a Uni. We had something small put out about the SC judgement via comms bulletins, completely incorrect. I supplied a very factual correction. This resulted in the entire senior team treating me negatively last week. And one of them trying to come and get me to say something they could use to discipline me. I know they're scared about the Sussex case & OfS fine.

Dept message on Thurs, all staff briefing on Fri so quite possibly it's the same institution. I don't think it's ever been as bad here as some places though.

I'm pleased to report that the (top rated) university I work for has confirmed that the single sex toilets in older buildings on campus do mean single sex as per the SC ruling (through gritted teeth). They are pointing out that "gender neutral" facilities are widely available. I think this is as good as it gets.

Separately, I have seen high level communication whereby departments are being asked to review the wording and links on their EDI pages. The phrasing being queried suggests a grown up has taken notice of the Sussex and SC ruling.

Desperate to be 'progressive' whatever the cost.

Many respected colleagues signed these open letters, yes … are they ignorant? Malicious? Afraid of the consequences of not signing? Do they actually think male sex offenders should be in female prisons? Male police officers strip search women? Or are they just really invested in the theory that sex differences do not exist and if they did, they have to be erased?

Some of the signatories are in my department ... They're nice people, we get on well - I don't think they're raging TRAs, just not v knowledgeable about the issues.