Professor’s union opposes her in ‘trans’ row

Lecturers’ body accused of ending feminist academic’s career with statement in support of campus activists

THE lecturers’ union has backed transgender activists in a row about a feminist academic’s free speech, it has emerged.

The University and College Union (UCU) has been accused of “effectively ending” Prof Kathleen Stock’s career by issuing a statement in support of transgender students.

It comes after pro-transgender students launched a “bullying” campaign to demand that Sussex University sack Prof Stock, who recently published a book questioning the idea that gender identity is more “socially significant” than biological sex.

Last week, students erected posters around campus which called on the university to fire her, claiming the professor was guilty of “transphobia”.

Prof Stock, an expert in analytic philosophy, has previously questioned the idea that men who feel like women should have automatic access to women-only facilities such as changing rooms, or be allowed to appear on women-only shortlists or sports teams.

However, she denies her critics’ claims that she is a transphobe.

A group, calling itself Anti Terf Sussex, describes Prof Stock online as “one of this wretched island’s most prominent transphobes, espousing a bastardised variation of radical feminism”.

Terf – which stands for Trans Exclusionary Radical Feminist – is generally used as a derogatory term to describe those who believe that “identifying” as a woman is not the same as being born a woman. It can also be used to refer to people who are deemed to hold “transphobic” views.

Prof Stock, who has received death threats, has been advised by the police to have CCTV at her front door.

She said she feels “vulnerable”, adding that the police implied she would need security guards to accompany her around the university campus.

The row deepened as UCU’S Sussex branch issued a statement which said: “In the light of recent events on campus and ensuing public response on social media, we extend our solidarity to all trans and non-binary members of our community who, now more than ever, should receive the unequivocal support of the university and its management.”

The UCU statement went on to urge the university’s management to “take a clear and strong stance against transphobia at Sussex”, adding: “Now is the time for our university leadership to uphold the institution’s stated values by ensuring that the dignity and respect of trans and non-binary staff and students, and their allies, are enshrined at the core of the university’s culture.”

Prof Stock said that her former union branch “has just effectively ended my career at Sussex University” by sending the statement out to its members.

A University of Sussex spokesman said they were “extremely concerned” that a member of the staff was being harassed, adding that they had taken “immediate action” in response.

They added: “We must be able to have complex discussions without bullying or harassment. We will always take swift action when this occurs.”