University ‘forces out’ FSU member for supporting bullied professor Kathleen Stock

The troubling case of a university employee that the Free Speech Union has been supporting featured in the Telegraph over the weekend (14th August).

University bosses at the University of Sheffield have been accused of forcing out their own equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) adviser after staff protested that his criticism of transgender activism was 'threatening'."

Our member, who wishes to remain anonymous, had been employed for more than two years at the University, working specifically on LGBT+ inclusion and a race equality action plan. In October 2021, however, colleagues from a trade union complained to managers about him signing a 'statement of solidarity' with the philosopher Professor Kathleen Stock, who quit the University of Sussex after a lengthy bullying campaign by trans activists.

As the Telegraph report continues: "The anonymous staff in a trade union at the university, who described themselves as 'senior LGBT+ champions', said his signature – alongside 2,800 staff from other UK universities – was 'particularly concerning given his role in EDI work at the university'.

"In a letter, staff also protested that his Twitter account had questioned why Girlguiding was allowing trans girls as members.

"They asked for a meeting with bosses 'to provide assurances that the welcome LGBT+ focus of EDI initiatives over the coming year is not being directed by staff members whose public statements suggest that they fundamentally oppose work to further inclusion of LGBT+ communities in this university'.

"Within a month, the adviser was told he could no longer work in LGBT+ and race equality at the university as his views 'created friction with key stakeholders.'"

The Free Speech Union will update its members and supporters on progress with this case in due course.