Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
‘My remark on women could now be criminal’
THE FORMER Dundee law student at the centre of a free-speech row when she declared “women have vaginas” claims the new hate crime bill could have left her with a criminal record.
Lisa Keogh was caught up in controversy in 2021 after she made the comment during an Abertay University discussion on transgender issues.
She was later cleared by Abertay following an investigation into claims she made “offensive” remarks.
On the day the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 came into force, the Angus mother of two vowed not to be deterred from speaking out.
Lisa told us: “Had this bill been introduced when I was studying at Abertay, I doubt I would have just been dragged through multiple disciplinary hearings, but I could have been facing a criminal record and quite possibly would have ended up with one.”
Lisa added: “This is a very dangerous bill. How can you define offence? Because I can’t.
“If we can’t define something, then how can we possibly legislate on it?
“The bill takes so much more away from us than free speech.”
She continued: “This bill will not deter me, and I hope it doesn’t deter others to speak freely.
“They can’t lock us all up but, ultimately, free speech in Scotland is a thing of the past.
“I love varying opinions, even if I don’t agree with them.
“This isn’t being offensive; this is how we learn to navigate through the world, how we interact and socialise.”
Lisa was reported by classmates at Abertay in 2021 following comments she made during a debate.
They included her remark that “the difference in physical strength of men versus women is a fact”.
In October of the same year, the 31-year-old said she was taking legal action against the university for the stress the controversy caused her.
However, in December 2022, a sheriff dismissed the legal action, saying it had no chance of success.
Lisa initially moved to appeal against the decision, but she has since dropped her appeal, fearing
it would cost too much with no guarantee of success.
Minister for Victims and Community Safety Siobhian Brown said: “Nobody in our society should live in fear, and we are committed to building safer communities that live free from hatred and prejudice.
“We know that the impact on those on the receiving end of physical, verbal or online attacks can be traumatic and life-changing.
“This legislation is an essential element of our wider approach to tackling that harm.
“Protections for freedom of expression are built into the legislation passed by Parliament and these new offences have a higher threshold for criminality than the long-standing offence of stirring up racial hatred, which has been in place since 1986.”