University of Essex apologises to Jo Phoenix and Rosa Freedman for infringing their freedom of speech

[RoyalCorgi]

Both Rosa Freedman and Jo Phoenix had invitations to speak at the University of Essex rescinded because of their "transphobic" views.

The university's vice-chancellor has now conducted a review and concluded that the cancellations were wrong.

twitter.com/jophoenix1/status/1394604603300253696

@RedDogsBeg a cynical person could conclude that Stonewall are guilty of deliberately mis-framing the Law and misinforming institutions, public bodies, private businesses et al

Agree, and actually a dispassionate impartial observer would conclude that too. No cynicism required; Stonewall’s behaviour is there in plain sight.

I’d like to know what the Charities commission think of this review, in respect of Stonewall’s deliberate misinterpretation of the Law.

This feels genuinely exciting!

Stonewall head of media is stepping away for a year's sabbatical due to dreadful transphobia (though he doesn't identify as trans) rats leaving a sinking ship per chance? We can only hope

@slug

249.As for indirect discrimination, the decision taken in relation to Prof Phoenix may contribute to indirect sex discrimination against women at the University,on the basis that more women than men tend to hold (and publicly express)gender critical views140. If that can be shown, it can be argued that women are more likely than men to be put at a disadvantage by a practice of excluding gender critical voices.

Ooohhhh!!!!!

And I'm assuming that if Stonewall had achieved their goal and eliminated sex as a protected characteristic, women wouldn't even have recourse to this.

Its appalling.

@Thecatonthemat

The message this sends out is clear. Why these institutions still suck up stonewall toxicity I have no idea. Let’s hope the others see the writing on the wall. If only Stonewall did...

I agree. What is the point of being a stonewall champion, when they lead you to look ridiculous and misogynistic and you are forced to issue public apologies.

Certainly for numerous people now, gay and straight, it's a warning, not an accolade.

@Chrysanthemum5

Blimey - this from the twitter feed

Boom!!! And there it is, in black and white.

Wow - I realised it was written by an independent external reviewer but hadn't appreciated it was an expert in discrimination law. That gives a lot of weight to the stuff about Stonewall's misrepresentation of the law and the fact that the university may have been illegally discriminating against women

Time for every woman who has suffered because of it to take legal action?

Exactly. If women cannot advocate for rights legally provided for in the Equality Act 2010, such as female spaces and services (aka gender critical feminism or in other words women centred feminism), it is creating a hostile environment for our sex class, which may be unlawful harassment and/or discrimination.

Essex is the home of the infamous woke-bro TRA, Dr Matt Lodder. His areas of academic expertise are tattoos and porn (most of his publications are in a journal called Porn Studies) and he loves telling women to STFU. So I am not surprised at how toxic it is there @GenderCriticalEssex. Solidarity to you and yay for the report. Let’s hope that the rest of the universities who have engaged in this follow suit.

Thanks @Pota2

It's so sad. In many ways Essex is a fantastic place to work, but the failures on this issue make things very very difficult. The report recommends work to repair relationships between trans and GC university members. I can't see how that can possibly be achieved.

The report covers material relating to gender that some readers may find distressing or triggering. We have put in place a number of measures to provide support for members of our community who may be affected directly or indirectly by the issues raised.
RedDogsBeg

I would expect to see support for other members of the university’s community, who have felt victimised and intimidated for holding GC views.
Yup, I would be pushing hard for this.

This is all just so fantastic. I wonder how Edinburgh will view those findings because they are dealing out the indirect discrimination cards by the handful and what about Raquel Rosario's case, she must be due a shedload of compensation. Can't wait

My heart goes out to those of you working in these toxic uni environments.

The report makes chilling reading and I'm so pleased at the outcome. Every single time these issues are taken to the courts / legal review the flaws at the heart of them are exposed with the sticky hand of Stonewall apparently behind so much 'misinformation'. This organisation needs to be removed from its position of unchallenged influence and forced to comply with the law.

For those who are unaware LegalFeminist have written some articles on guidance provided by Stonewall including legalfeminist.org.uk/2021/02/01/submission-and-compliance/

Just read the THE write up of this and it's very factual and unbiased. Stonewall is mentioned
"It also recommends that the university consider the “relative benefits and disbenefits” of its relationship with LGBT rights group Stonewall. “In particular, it should consider that this relationship appears to have given university members the impression that gender critical academics can legitimately be excluded from the institution,” the review says"

Oh dear, Stonewall had better get their rainbow stationery out to write another scolding open letter!

Is the report publicly available? I can’t access Twitter.

@thepuredrop

Is the report publicly available? I can’t access Twitter.

There's a link to the pdf here:

www.essex.ac.uk/blog/posts/2021/05/17/review-of-two-events-with-external-speakers

@ItsAllGoingToBeFine thank you!

I think this will be another watershed moment. I'm sure it will be important beyond Essex uni. Between the ehrc and this report it feels like the uncapturing process has started. Everyone puuuuulllll.

The barrister who wrote it (I looked up) has huge amounts of relevant experience and expertise.

But there are a few things that suggest how difficult the culture change will be:
-the action responding to criticism of stonewall is lacklustre. It's really noticeable.
-the trigger warnings are given because of the upsetting views on gender, but not because of female academics being likened to holocaust deniers or targeted with violent leaflets.
-support is offered to anyone affected, but only lgbt students/staff are mentioned as a group who might need it (even tho no discrimination against them was found), not female staff/students (who are told that their uni might have committed sex discrimination) or gender critical staff & students whose views were targeted.
-Trans advocate academics at the uni, who are on twitter performing their feeling of being unsafe & consoling each other, have either not read the report, or are deliberately missing the point.

But the report is so sensible.

I've just spent a glorious hour or so working my way through that whole report (on a tiny phone screen) - or at least the bits that aren't redacted.

A really concise summary of the relevant issues, laws, case laws, errors in interpreting and general situation.

@AuntyFungal

The report covers material relating to gender that some readers may find distressing or triggering. We have put in place a number of measures to provide support for members of our community who may be affected directly or indirectly by the issues raised. RedDogsBeg

I would expect to see support for other members of the university’s community, who have felt victimised and intimidated for holding GC views.
Yup, I would be pushing hard for this.

I think those who have been victimised and live in fear of expressing their GC views are the only ones who need support.

The poor me, cry babies that may find reading material related to gender distressing and triggering have no problem spouting vitriol and hatred at those holding GC views and frankly shouldn't be pandered to at all.

@Beeeeeeeeeeeeeep

Stonewall head of media is stepping away for a year's sabbatical due to dreadful transphobia (though he doesn't identify as trans) rats leaving a sinking ship per chance? We can only hope

More like the pressure of being found to have falsely represented what the Law actually says to schools, universities, businesses and public bodies and the resulting court cases and Judicial Reviews which are laying bare their aims and falsehoods and not liking the backlash.

It's only as I've read the full report I've realised how important this is. To see Stonewall criticised like this is wonderful. It's really made my day.

This is very useful. Worth raising with uni HR departments if you can. I will.