Workplaces
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Why is Sex Matters intervening in the case of Kristie Higgs?
Sex Matters, the Equality and Human Rights Commission, the Church of England Archbishops’ Council, the Free Speech Union and the Association of Christian Teachers are all separately intervening in a belief-discrimination case, Higgs v Farmor’s School, being heard at the Court of Appeal this week. The appeal concerns the...
1st October 2024
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Don’t Get Caught Out – a summary of gender critical belief discrimination employment tribunal judgments
by Ruth Birchall and Jo Phoenix
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Council admits discriminating against social worker over her gender-critical views
Cambridgeshire county council has paid social work manager Lizzy Pitts £54,000 in compensation after admitting discriminating against her for her gender-critical views.
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Be more SEEN!
Last week Sex Matters hosted a meeting of people involved in the Sex Equality and Equity Networks (SEENs) and other sector and staff networks. The first SEEN was launched in October 2022 by a group of civil servants. It is a civil-service staff network that aims to challenge discrimination...
22nd July 2024
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The new deal for working people and the definition of sex
We expect the government to take action in the first 100 days on its new deal for working people, and that we will see something about this in the King’s Speech on 17th July, when its immediate legislative programme is announced. Before the election the Labour Party said that,...
12th July 2024
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Being clear about our beliefs
Sex Matters was founded as an organisation based on human rights. We believe that the rule of law, and the underpinning human rights, are crucial to protect people against unjust and capricious treatment by the state. We also believe that ideas and behaviours promoted in the name of gender...
29th May 2024
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The Jo Phoenix case should be a wake-up call for universities
In 2019 Professor Jo Phoenix became the target of a campaign of harassment from her colleagues at the Open University (OU) after she raised concerns about the silencing of gender-critical voices in academia. This ramped up in 2021 after she co-founded an academic research network for the rigorous exploration...
16th May 2024
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Learning from the Jo Phoenix case
What universities and their regulators need to know and do
What happened at the Open University was not an isolated problem, and it was not just about Phoenix. This briefing tells the story of the case based on the findings of the employment tribunal, and sets out lessons for the university... -
Academic mobbing – what university management needs to know
Ian Pace, Professor of Music, Culture and Society at City, University of London, writes for Sex Matters on the phenomenon of workplace mobbing, drawing on studies of dissent under totalitarian regimes and the phenomenon of groupthink. He explores why mobbing seems to be on the rise in universities, with...
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Roz Adams v Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre
An employment tribunal ruled that caseworker Roz Adams was subjected to unlawful discrimination and constructive dismissal by Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre.
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Legal opinion says promotion policy discriminates on basis of gender-critical beliefs
Earlier this year Sex Matters was approached by Dr John Armstrong, a reader in mathematics at King’s College London (KCL). Dr Armstrong was applying for promotion, but was concerned that the “EDI” (equality, diversity and inclusion) section of the application, which required applicants to demonstrate their commitment to ideas...
20th April 2024
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Counsel’s opinion in the matter of King’s College London academic promotions criteria
KCL’s promotion policy discriminates on the basis of gender-critical beliefs, and will also be likely to contravene the new law on academic freedom due to come into force in August 2024.
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SEEN in the Church of England
A sex equality and equity network formed in March 2024 to talk about how the Church of England endorses gender ideology – a harmful set of ideas with no history, evidence, science, or church doctrine to back it. Twitter: @SEENintheCoE
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SEEN in the City
Formed in 2023, SEEN in the City is a sex equality and equity network for financial-services professionals in the UK. Its principles are based on those of the Civil Service SEEN. Committed to the protected belief that biological sex is binary and immutable and matters for both women and...
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Civil Service SEEN
Founded in 2022 as the first sex equality and equity network, Civil Service SEEN is a cross-government staff network committed to promoting and supporting sex equality and equity in the workplace. The group is for UK civil servants and public-sector staff – from central and devolved government departments, agencies,...
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“Be nice!” says the BBC’s director-general
The director-general of the BBC, Tim Davie, appeared at the parliamentary select committee for culture, media and sport this week. He was asked by Damian Green MP about the complaint upheld against Justin Webb for clarifying that transwomen “are, in other words, male”. Webb was reprimanded by the BBC’s...
22nd March 2024
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Inclusion at Work Panel: report on improving workplace diversity and inclusion
A report from the independent Inclusion at Work Panel setting out how organisations can improve diversity and inclusion practices through evidence.
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Clinical Advisory Network on Sex and Gender (CAN-SG)
Group of clinicians concerned at established medical bodies’ and regulators’ uncritical support for experimental treatments for gender-confused and gender-distressed people. (For names of members, visit the website.) Advocates for clearer dialogue, better data collection, rigorous science and improved treatment options for gender dysphoria. Calls upon healthcare organisations to develop...
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Evidence-Based Social Work Alliance (EBSWA)
Coalition of practitioners, academics and students in the field of social work. Formed as a response to concerns about the impact of gender-identity theory in their field. Argues that social workers’ legal responsibilities to safeguard children are being put at risk by the lack of an evidence base for...
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What is the indelible mark left by the NHS Rainbow Badge scheme?
The organisers of the NHS Rainbow Badge scheme have announced that it has come to an end due to lack of funding. But project lead Alex Matheson says that “the project has left an indelible mark” on NHS trusts. The scheme was created in a London hospital in 2018...
22nd February 2024
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SEEN in HR
Formed in January 2024: a group of human resources professionals in both private and public-sector organisations who hold sex-realist and gender-critical beliefs. For anyone working in the range of disciplines across HR, in the public or private sector – who can also be members of other SEEN groups. Membership...
14th February 2024
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GANHRI should stand up for the EHRC, not join in the abuse
Together with 38 groups defending sex-based rights, Sex Matters has written to GANHRI calling on it to stand up for the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), as reported in The Telegraph today. Britain’s human-rights regulator is facing a campaign of reprisals for acting to protect those with gender-critical...
5th February 2024
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SEEN in Journalism
Launched in March 2024 as a sex equality and equity network for reporters, columnists, investigative journalists, producers, editors and content-makers across platforms, who seek to restore accuracy and impartiality to the media coverage of sex and gender. Aims to: Committed to the protected belief that sex is binary and...
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Local Authority SEEN
Formed in May 2024 as a sex equality and equity network for employees of local government in the UK. Challenges local authorities (including borough councils, county councils, combined authorities, and town and parish councils) that present the concept of “gender identity” as uncontested fact or prioritise it over sex....
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Parliament SEEN
A sex equality and equity network for all working in Parliament committed to promoting and supporting sex equality and equity between men and women. Formed in February 2024. Twitter: @SEENinParli Email [email protected]
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Police SEEN UK
UK policing’s national sex equality and equity network, launched in January 2024 with a mission to restore fairness, impartiality and trust to policing. For all serving police officers and police staff who hold lawful sex-realist and gender-critical beliefs. Aims to ensure that police forces return focus to the Peelian...
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Response to the Financial Conduct Authority’s consultation on Diversity and Inclusion
The response from SEEN in the City to the FCA’s proposals (CP23/20) raises serious concerns – particularly that there is no requirement for firms to collect sex data.
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SEEN in Sport
Network set up in April 2024 for all players, coaches, officials and parents who believe that women and girl’s sport should be for biological females only Female categories were instigated by governing bodies precisely because there is a biological difference between men and women, and fair play is only...
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Resisting violations of women-only spaces
The chair of Sex Matters’ board, barrister Naomi Cunningham, was asked to speak at a conference in Edinburgh on Tuesday 5th December to celebrate the first anniversary of the opening of Beira’s Place. Beira’s Place, based in Edinburgh but covering the whole Lothian region, is a trauma-informed service for...
7th December 2023
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It’s time to act
Following the judgment in the For Women Scotland appeal, it is time for the government to act.
2nd November 2023
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Data matters
The easiest way to ask about sex is to ask a simple question and expect a straightforward answer.
19th October 2023
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Data matters
Advice on the questions you should ask when collecting personal data on sex and transgender identity. See also our template letter of complaint to send when you are concerned that an organisation is misusing your data by confusing sex and gender.