'Gender critical' beliefs protected by law, says equalities watchdog
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/04/29/gender-critical-beliefs-protected-law-says-equalities-watchdog/
The belief that trans women are men is protected by law, the equalities watchdog has confirmed.
The statement from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) came as a landmark case over trans rights concluded this week.
In March 2019, Maya Forstater lost her job after being accused of "offensive" tweets questioning government proposals to allow people to self-identify as being of the opposite sex. Ms Forstater took her case to an employment tribunal in December 2019 on the grounds that her dismissal constituted discrimination against her "gender critical" beliefs. Employment judge James Tayler dismissed her claim, saying she was "absolutist in her view of sex".
During her appeal hearing this week, held via video link before Mr Justice Choudhury, she reiterated her views that biological sex is "real, important, immutable, and not to be conflated with gender identity". Ben Cooper QC, representing Ms Forstater, argued that it is "compelled speech" to use the correct pronouns for trans people, but the tribunal was also told that misgendering a trans person amounts to "hate speech" and "harassment".
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The EHRC submitted evidence supporting Ms Forstater in her bid to have her "gender critical" views established as a protected belief under the Equality Act – a move that came as a surprise to many. A spokesman for the EHRC confirmed that "gender critical" beliefs are protected in law and said: "We believe it is important that our courts and tribunals continue to robustly protect freedom of religion or belief.
