Russell Groups response to Free Speech

[Justme56]

https://russellgroup.ac.uk/media/6216/russell-group-ofs-approach-to-free-speech-summary.pdf

See the sixth bullet point.

Wow is that legal? Surely not - open discrimination against gender critical views is absolutely appalling and illegal. Is this a draft or final publication?

They may find they will need to ring fence some funds to pay for court cases they lose given gender critical beliefs have protection under the Equalities Act following the Forestater judgement.

That part of the policy is in itself unlawful. And apparently they've never heard of Maya Forstater, or Jo Phoenix.

From the link:
'Includes examples of unlawful speech which universities would be expected to take steps to restrict, including [...] gender critical speech, in the guidance.'
Gender critical speech is not illegal. Believing that there are men and women, XY and XX, is WORIADS, per the Forstatter ruling.

Multi x-post!

I've just emailed in a formal complaint. CEO is at [email protected]

Twitter is @RussellGroup - I'm not on Twitter, anyone who is please highlight this, encouraging direct discrimination is illegal.

The Free Speech Union may be interested in this too…

That's absolutely shocking.

Oh dear.

Linked to this thread - hope I am not hijacking

The Unofficial WI prevented me posting very reasonable GC views on their Facebook page , my comment to a post was that the WI need to have mechanisms in place and increase the pooling of fares for training and paying for delegates at national conference so that everybody now has a single room accommodation . (Usual and present practice is based on 2 women sharing a room ) This is because of their policy to admit TW .

I know the act of removing my comments to a post whilst leaving that post up is likely to be unlawful and am looking for a solicitor to help me with a cease and desist letter, since this keeps happening on that site.

Suggestions gratefully received.

I actually think that is very cleverly worded and it is potentially written by a TERF. Give us examples of hate speech so we know what to look out for. However, they will struggle to find examples as they will presumably need to justify the examples.

Of course the alternative is that it was written by a TRA who believes anyone who deviates from the doctrine is a gender critical heretic.

Can't help with your need for legal team but as a WI member I'd be interested in finding out more about the unofficial WI

UWI is completely captured by TW . Even NFWI who now lets anyone in who Lives as a Woman ( plus anyone who only does it Monday to Wednesday ) but even they recognise the right of GC women to remain in the WI . The UWI run by ignorant volunteers will not allow any GC views .

Just published on Russell Group twitter:

We apologise for an error in our original submission to the OfS free speech consultation, which incorrectly listed "gender critical" speech as an example of unlawful speech, in place of "transphobic". This was a genuine mistake and we have now republished our corrected summary.

Genuine mistake my arse.

Hmm not much better , It seems like they said the quiet bit out loud. misogynistic speech is ok though

Hopefully they've had strong words with that intern

The link is gone...

It doesn't say much for the Russell Group's editorial and publishing processes, does it? Or their attention to detail, commitment to free speech, grasp of current issues or awareness of tribunals within their own sector.

I think this is the consultation they're responding to:
https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/media/znzlhij1/free-speech-consultation-guidance-other-matters-final.pdf

They're going to have to define "transphobic".

Also, is there a legal definition of "unlawful speech"?

Sadly for them, I have downloaded the file. As have others, I don't doubt.

Well, that was quick! Good

I'm not sure it's good that they have swapped gender critical for transphobic, therefore in their mind inferring that they are interchangeable.

Shows the power of Mumsnet! Let's keep at them and all the other organisations peddling this pernicious ideology.

@MrsMitford3 would you mind posting it?