Edinburgh Uni hosts pro-women film screening almost one year after first planned

A University of Edinburgh screening of a documentary upholding the reality of biological sex has gone ahead despite repeated intimidation from trans activists.

‘Adult Human Female’, made by filmmakers Deirdre O’Neill and Mike Wayne, was originally due to be shown last December. However, the university cancelled the screening citing safety concerns when students blocked attendees from accessing either the original venue or its proposed alternative.

The University of Edinburgh Academics for Academic Freedom (EAFAF) then rescheduled the event for April, which was cancelled over a second demonstration, before it was eventually shown at a theatre in George Square.

‘Delighted’

Over 100 trans activists reportedly protested the event, with men shouting abuse at attendees and holding banners displaying the acronym “TERF”. ‘Trans-exclusionary radical feminists’ is used as a slur for women who say it is not possible for men to become women.

In a statement, EAFAF said it was “delighted” the screening finally went ahead but criticised the “harassment” of attendees and lamented that “a major security operation involving dozens of security and police officers was necessary”.

The event featured a discussion panel with the film’s directors and representatives from EAFAF, policy analysis group Murray Blackburn Mackenzie and campaign group For Women Scotland.

Victory

In October, JK Rowling made an appearance at Europe’s largest annual women’s conference after trans activists failed to shut it down.

Just twelve hours before the ‘FiLiA’ conference was due to begin, the planned venue, Glasgow’s Platform, refused the women’s group access. FiLiA, part of the Women’s Liberation Movement, said trans activist group Glasgow Trans Rally had put “extraordinary pressure” on Platform to cancel the conference.

After lawyers cited the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association’s recent legal victory against Scottish Event Campus Ltd over an axed evangelistic rally, Platform backed down.