A demonstration in support of trans rights will be held today in response to a meeting of self-described feminist group Womanโs Place UK (WPUK). WPUK was established in 2017 to oppose the trans rights enshrined in changes to the Gender Recognition Act, and has been widely condemned as transphobic.
Trans Action Oxford, who are organising the demo, decided not to directly protest the WPUK event, but instead hope the demonstration will show solidarity with the trans community. They said that rather than โplay[ing] into their narrative of false victimhood, we are looking to re-centre trans voices, and to discuss trans issues alongside cis allies in a respectful and tolerant manner.โ
A Womanโs Place UK was set up to campaign around proposed changes to the Gender Recognition Act and now describes itself as a group โunited by our beliefs that womenโs hard-won rights must be defended.โ
However, they have been widely criticised for comments made by many of their speakers about trans rights. Trans Action Oxford said: โโA Womanโs Placeโ was set up to oppose changes to the Gender Recognition Act which would improve trans peopleโs lives, and has since maintained a focus on undermining trans rights.โ
They added that previous speakers โhave affirmed their desire to โdrive [trans people] out of public spacesโ, and characterised trans women as โhorrible, hateful, misogynistic bastardsโ, โparasitesโ, and โrapistsโ. They have also described the high suicide rates amongst trans people โ almost half of trans people have attempted suicide โ as a โmythโ.โ
However, WPUK disputes this representation. In a statement released on their website, they said: “Our primary aim is to ensure womenโs voices are heard and their rights upheld. We are not campaigning against rights for transgender people. Not only is this not our primary aim; it is not an aim of our campaign at all.”
They added: “Womanโs Place UK was set up to ensure womenโs voices were heard in a consultation to change a law that would be likely to have a material impact on their existing rights. The government made it clear that it wanted to hear from the widest number of people in the consultation, in particular women.”
Furthermore, Woman’s Place UK said of the quotes listed in the Trans Action Oxford statement that “no speaker has said this at any of our meetings”, except for the description ‘horrible, hateful, misogynistic bastards’, of which they said: “This is a reference Anne Ruzylo made in her speech at our Cambridge meeting to specific trans activists (not all of them trans) in her local Labour Party who had bullied her out of her Constituency Labour Party (CLP). “
Trans Action Oxford released a statement about the demo and WPUK which has been signed by over 120 groups and individuals, including the Oxford LGBTQ+ society, numerous college LGBTQ+ reps and the SU Womenโs Campaign. Several college JCRs have also voted to support the statement and the demo, including St Hildaโs and Lady Margaret Hall.
The statement notes that the actions of WPUK members โmake our lives harder, more precarious, and more dangerous.โ
Some students are particularly concerned about the participation of Selina Todd, a Tutorial Fellow in History at St Hildaโs College, in the WPUK panel. Todd has previously faced criticism for her views on trans rights, but has defended her views on the basis of academic freedom.
Todd has published her views on her website, where she states she believes that โbeing a woman rests both on certain biological facts and on the experience of living in the world as a woman, from birth, an experience that is shaped by particular kinds of oppressions.โ
One student at the college, who wished to remain anonymous, emphasised their concern about how this could impact students. They said: โSt Hildaโs college and the History faculty should reassess their position in continuing to hire Professor Todd.
โHow can a transgender student feel comfortable with the knowledge that their college believes that academic free speech is more important than their existence? Professor Todd has continually made this argument about freedom of academic speech which is not valid.โ
A member of Trans Action Oxford also criticised Toddโs role, telling Cherwell: โI think itโs clear that thereโs no place in Oxford for bigotry like Selina Toddโs. Her rhetoric is obviously harmful to the lives of trans people across the country, but itโs also worth stressing the impact on any trans students she might teach.
โStudying at Oxford is hard enough without your tutors denying your right to exist, and itโs vital to studentsโ welfare that they donโt have to face this kind of hatred.โ
They added: โWeโre hoping for a respectful but communal atmosphere to recognise the importance of solidarity and the need for future work.โ
Todd denied claims that she was transphobic, telling Cherwell: โThe claims that I am transphobic or โdenyโ anyoneโs existence are groundless and defamatory. I am very proud to be speaking at the meeting called by A Womanโs Place UK. Womanโs Place UK is not transphobic.
โGiven that sex harassment affects many female students and staff in UK higher education, and the sex pay gap within higher education is higher than the national average, I consider sex discrimination a pressing issue. The speech will be recorded and available for all to listen to on the Womanโs Place website.
โI never suggest that students should agree with my views on this or any other matter. I encourage debate and fully endorse the Universityโs position that โfree speech is the lifeblood of a university.โ
The member of Trans Action Oxford who spoke to Cherwell emphasised the support the demo has received from around the city: โI think one thing I wanted to note in general is just how amazing a lot of the support weโve got from around the university and the city has been.
โItโs been really inspirational to see almost 400 people already responding to our Facebook event, and to get the signatures of so many students, fellows, residents, and organisations. Weโve already got signatures from several common rooms, campaigns, and societies and expect to get still more. The show of solidarity is amazing and really shows thereโs no place in Oxford for transphobia.
โThe University needs to make sure it improves welfare support for trans people and makes the process of transition easier. Itโs simply unacceptable that, according to the Trans Report 2018, almost every trans person at the University has experienced issues with their mental health.โ
The Trans Report also found that nearly 2/3 of students had experienced transphobia or discrimination in the University.
Woman’s Place UK described Trans Action Oxford’s open letter as “full of false claims about our campaign which we believe to be defamatory.”
“We are therefore extremely disappointed to see signatories to this letter who cannot have done any research into what we stand for. We are sorry they have been so misled. We have not pushed trans voices to the edges. In fact, we have had trans speakers on our panels, and many other trans people have attended our meetings and spoken from the floor.
“We are pleased that Trans Action Oxford accept our right to hold public meetings free from intimidation and harassment and are holding their protest elsewhere. Sadly, this has not been our general experience.”
A spokesperson for the University said: โโOxford University prioritises protecting academic freedom and robust expression of opinion and debate, while not tolerating any form of unlawful discrimination, harassment or victimisation.
โWe equally aim to create an inclusive trans-friendly culture, workplace and learning environment, free from discrimination, harassment or victimisation, where trans staff and students are treated with dignity and respect.โ
A spokesperson for St Hilda’s college said: โSt Hildaโs College cannot comment on individual college members. St Hildaโs College takes seriously the duty to protect and promote freedom of expression within the law. St Hildaโs is totally committed to the welfare and support of all its academics, staff and students. We aim to create an inclusive culture, workplace and learning environment, free from discrimination, harassment or victimisation, where all people are treated with dignity and respect. We aim to make all members of the College feel welcome, safe, valued and supported so that they can achieve their potential and contribute as a member of the St Hildaโs community.โ
This article has been updated from the version which appeared in print to include the response of A Woman’s Place UK.