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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

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Original poster

Claire Methven O’Brien is taking legal action against the Scottish Human Rights Commission

26 replies

rebax · 18/07/2026 13:21

From Today's Times
Times

Scotland’s human rights watchdog is being sued by one of its executives for discriminating against her “gender-critical” beliefs.
Claire Methven O’Brien, an internationally renowned civil liberties expert, is taking legal action against the Scottish Human Rights Commission (SHRC), of which O’Brien was appointed a member in 2022.

O’Brien will be represented by Margaret Gribbon, the same lawyer who represented the NHS nurse Sandie Peggie.

Scottish rights watchdog sued by its own executive over ‘gender beliefs’

Claire Methven O’Brien is taking legal action against the Scottish Human Rights Commission as she claims discrimination for her views on the Sandie Peggie case

https://www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/article/scottish-rights-watchdog-sued-by-its-own-executive-over-gender-beliefs-ts8d0tgdk

OP posts:
Hedgehogforshort · 18/07/2026 13:51

Well that will be a goody for next year. Though she will probs have to go to appeal given the two outcomes we know about.

RedToothBrush · 18/07/2026 13:54

At some point one of these cases will land a knockout blow. ATM it feels like it's going 28 rounds in a boxing ring when the ref has been bribed.

MarieDeGournay · 18/07/2026 14:07

I recognise her name - I remember being impressed by an article she wrote last year and I think I suggested at the time adding her name to the 'pantheon' of women like Maya etc who are so good at articulating the sex-realist argument clearly to the media.
Her case should be a very interesting one, she's highly qualified and seems to be fearless as wellSmile
Dr Claire Methven O'Brien | University of Dundee, UK

MarieDeGournay · 18/07/2026 14:08

Claire’s Substack | Substack

Hedgehogforshort · 18/07/2026 14:40

Thanks Marie

TwoLoonsAndASprout · 18/07/2026 16:18

MarieDeGournay · 18/07/2026 14:07

I recognise her name - I remember being impressed by an article she wrote last year and I think I suggested at the time adding her name to the 'pantheon' of women like Maya etc who are so good at articulating the sex-realist argument clearly to the media.
Her case should be a very interesting one, she's highly qualified and seems to be fearless as wellSmile
Dr Claire Methven O'Brien | University of Dundee, UK

I had the same reaction Marie. This is definitely going to be one to watch.

TheywontletmehavethenameIwant · 18/07/2026 17:56

Thanks for the links.

"civil liberties expert" my kind of expert, this whole ideology is an attack on our civil liberties, it's been imposed on the electorate by the government through the public sector and all the other arms of the state.

No Debate was a clear violation of our civil liberty, and everyone who's been cancelled, sacked and hounded out have all had their civil liberties taken from them.

I wish her all the best of luck in her fight, given her expertise, hopefully she and her lawyer will run rings around the zombies. 😁

IwantToRetire · 18/07/2026 17:59

rebax · 18/07/2026 13:21

From Today's Times
Times

Scotland’s human rights watchdog is being sued by one of its executives for discriminating against her “gender-critical” beliefs.
Claire Methven O’Brien, an internationally renowned civil liberties expert, is taking legal action against the Scottish Human Rights Commission (SHRC), of which O’Brien was appointed a member in 2022.

O’Brien will be represented by Margaret Gribbon, the same lawyer who represented the NHS nurse Sandie Peggie.

Thanks for highlighting this.

Does not one in the real world not think why are all these women / women's groups suing to get their rights back.

Its a bit like "serious" people discussing violence against women, and the focus is on women and how to support them after the violence has happened. Nobody thinks maybe we should look at the caused of that violence ie men.

Why is no one asking why are all these employers discriminating against women.

fanOfBen · 18/07/2026 18:01

No gardening being needed for this one currently, as far as I can see?

Wishesandhorses · 18/07/2026 18:04

Thank you for the links. Good for Claire, this has to stop.

TheywontletmehavethenameIwant · 18/07/2026 18:38

Thanks for the link, AM expresses himself so well, I use all the words he does but I'm never as eloquent as him.

Gender-theory claptrap I love it.

MoistVonL · 18/07/2026 18:53

God bless Alex Massie! The narrative of "both sides" is a stinking lie and I'm glad he says som

PachacutiOfTheRPA · 18/07/2026 19:02

The subhead is a joy 😁
'Gender-slop has held sway for more than a decade and, like asbestos, removing it takes time'

BiologicalRobot · 18/07/2026 19:23

Claire Methven O’Brien, an internationally renowned civil liberties expert,

😮🍿

Original poster
rebax · 19/07/2026 06:22

This will be important because the legal process should unearth a lot of internal SHRC communication around the Peggie case.

OP posts:
testmatchspecial · 19/07/2026 09:06

Thanks @Igneococcusthat was great to read.

Wishesandhorses · 19/07/2026 09:50

Igneococcus · 18/07/2026 18:06

Alex Massie talks about this case in his comment today in the Times:
https://www.thetimes.com/article/bcf537da-8153-41be-8c3b-94cc284de538?shareToken=009ba7a90471a261fdc10f1e1b5d8659&ver=article

Thank you for sharing that.

I particularly like the point about (paraphrased) 'ok, ok, so you have rights on paper, now won't you be ladies and shut up about wanting them in actual practice too?' now being tried by, oh, the Civil Bloody Service for example?

It really now needs to be said, clearly in court, if we have a civil service, a government and establishment who do not respect the law, or believe in following it if they don't happen to like it, then how and why do they expect the electorate to follow the laws they don't like? Taxation, for example.

Ariana12 · 19/07/2026 15:04

Wishesandhorses · 19/07/2026 09:50

Thank you for sharing that.

I particularly like the point about (paraphrased) 'ok, ok, so you have rights on paper, now won't you be ladies and shut up about wanting them in actual practice too?' now being tried by, oh, the Civil Bloody Service for example?

It really now needs to be said, clearly in court, if we have a civil service, a government and establishment who do not respect the law, or believe in following it if they don't happen to like it, then how and why do they expect the electorate to follow the laws they don't like? Taxation, for example.

Show quote history

I am simultaneously grateful to MNers for this info and just a tad annoyed? depressed? When will we reach the final.tip over to reality? Presumably NOT while the new extremely slick Malory Towers musical has Bill ( the tomboy Wilhemina) as a "transgirl" i.e. a boy 😳

MarieDeGournay · 19/07/2026 19:03

Wishesandhorses · 19/07/2026 09:50

Thank you for sharing that.

I particularly like the point about (paraphrased) 'ok, ok, so you have rights on paper, now won't you be ladies and shut up about wanting them in actual practice too?' now being tried by, oh, the Civil Bloody Service for example?

It really now needs to be said, clearly in court, if we have a civil service, a government and establishment who do not respect the law, or believe in following it if they don't happen to like it, then how and why do they expect the electorate to follow the laws they don't like? Taxation, for example.

Show quote history

'Reason is never inconvenient, but when it comes to be applied'

Edmund Burke - whole chunks of his writing could have been written in response to genderwoo, I keep finding very apposite quotes!

I am very aware of his shortcomings BTW, the fact that I keep quoting him is not an endorsement of his politics, I just love his way with wordsSmile

SinnerBoy · 19/07/2026 19:34

ALooseAffiliationOfMillionaireShortbread · 18/07/2026 13:40

https://www.skipthepaywall.com/read?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thetimes.com%2Fuk%2Fscotland%2Farticle%2Fscottish-rights-watchdog-sued-by-its-own-executive-over-gender-beliefs-ts8d0tgdk

Archive version.

Thanks, I was looking at it on Twatter, but couldn't get an archive link to work, though some kind soul put a partial screenshot up.

TheywontletmehavethenameIwant · 19/07/2026 20:12

MarieDeGournay · 19/07/2026 19:03

'Reason is never inconvenient, but when it comes to be applied'

Edmund Burke - whole chunks of his writing could have been written in response to genderwoo, I keep finding very apposite quotes!

I am very aware of his shortcomings BTW, the fact that I keep quoting him is not an endorsement of his politics, I just love his way with wordsSmile

Show quote history

I find Voltaire a font of wisdom nowadays

"It is difficult to free fools from the chains the revere"

"Many are destined to reason wrongly; others, not to reason at all; and others, to persecute those who do reason."

PachacutiOfTheRPA · 19/07/2026 21:38

Presumably this will be another fine opportunity for Scotgov to spaff a load of money up the wall

www.thetimes.com/article/3345a939-235d-4c85-bacf-e773803fde00?shareToken=1ff60e3df2bc7ef3480f48f5085d1fae&ver=article

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