Council apologises for ‘unlawfully’ cancelling feminist speaker over trans views

A local council has admitted acting unlawfully in cancelling a feminist group’s event because the speaker upholds the reality of biological sex.

In June, high-profile feminist writer Julie Bindel was due to speak at Aspley Library on violence against women at an event organised by Nottingham Women for Change. But the day before Bindel was due to speak, Nottingham City Council cancelled the booking.

Following successful legal action, the council has now stated it “accepts that its decision to cancel the event was procedurally unlawful” and has issued a formal apology.

‘Important win’

When the council cancelled the event in June, it claimed its decision was “due to the speaker’s views on transgender rights being at odds with aspects of the council’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy” and referenced its collaboration with Stonewall.

Writing on the UnHerd website, Bindel explained: “This is such an important win because any future refusal will be open to legal challenge. And other local authorities will have to think twice before deciding to de-platform or ban a speaker because they have decided their legal and reasonable views are offensive.”

She added: “So let this be a lesson to all councils. You need to follow equality law as it is, not the law as Stonewall wants it to be. Or you will be sued. And you may well lose.”

JK Rowling tweeted her support for Bindel, saying: “An important win for freedom of speech and a reminder that however much some would like to censor and silence feminist groups and speakers, the latter have the law on their side.”

Disregard

Last week, Bindel blasted the trans-activist group Mermaids for endangering children by appointing “a child abuse apologist” as a trustee.

Writing for UnHerd, Julie Bindel called for Mermaids to be immediately shut down following the recent resignation of the trustee Dr Jacob Breslow over revelations that he had promoted paedophilia.

In 2011, Dr Breslow delivered a paper that attempted to normalise sexual acts with children and Bindel contended that there is “ample evidence” he has only “strengthened his views” since then.

The feminist argued that Mermaids’ appointment of Dr Breslow further illustrates its “history of disregarding the safety of children — and promoting an ideology that sexualises them”.