Why Maya Forstater must win

Watching an Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT) sounds about as exciting as going to a data-protection conference in Milton Keynes. But yesterday’s Forstater v CGDE was riveting, covering everything from fundamental human rights to existential states of being. At points, the courtroom drama moved into the realms of farce, with sober and straight-faced barristers debating the proposition that people are either male or female. A ruling will be delivered within the next few months, and the consequences for freedom of belief and expression will be profound.

Maya Forstater, a consultant and researcher at the CGDE (Centre for Global Development Europe), tweeted that biological sex is real and immutable. Most sane people would recognise this to be true, or at least view it as a valid contribution to the ongoing debate around the reform of the Gender Recognition Act. CGDE disagreed, and her contract was not renewed on the basis that her opinions might upset those who identify as transgender. Consequently, Forstater took CGDE to an employment tribunal, but she lost. The presiding judge, James Tayler, held that Forstater’s beliefs were ‘not worthy of respect in a democratic society’. Forstater then took the case to the EAT.

Ahead of this week’s hearing, Forstater said:

Read here

Read also: Judge to decide: can employers force staff to believe in gender ideology? from Coalition for Marriage

The freedom to say sex is biological at stake by Tim Dieppe, Christian Concern

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