Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.
Professor Alice Sullivan, a prominent academic who recently led a government review on the collection of sex and gender data, is threatening legal action against the University of Bristol. She alleges that the university failed to safeguard her freedom of speech after a talk she was scheduled to give was disrupted by a protest from trans rights activists. In addition to her legal warning, Professor Sullivan has also raised concerns with the Office for Students, the regulatory body overseeing universities in England.
The University of Bristol, however, disputes her claims. It maintains that despite “unacceptable disruption” during the event, the lecture proceeded safely and was in line with its strong commitment to protecting free speech on campus. Universities in England have a legal duty to balance the protection of free speech with the rights of protesters, especially with new legislation that came into effect in August aimed at reinforcing freedom of speech in higher education.
Professor Sullivan’s government report, published in March, recommended that biological sex and gender identity be recorded as separate categories in data collection. She was invited by a Bristol academic to speak in July 2024 and agreed to hold the event later that year. The university initially proposed hosting the talk online, which Professor Sullivan declined, not anticipating the extent of potential protests. She acknowledged the rights of opponents to express their views but emphasized that peaceful protest should never become a “heckler’s veto,” which prevents others from speaking. She stressed that the issue reinforces the importance of open discussions within the university community.
When the event finally took place on 22 October 2025, it was met with significant disruption. Protesters gathered outside, making rude gestures and holding placards, with some pressing against windows and using loudhailers, an experience Professor Sullivan described as akin to a “zombie apocalypse.” The fire alarm was triggered multiple times during the talk, forcing the event to move to an upper floor. After the talk, Professor Sullivan was met with chants of “shame on you” from protesters. Police attended but made no arrests. Her legal team contends that the university had ample time—15 months—to secure a safe venue and that internal documents show complaints from the university’s LGBTQ+ staff network concerning her participation.
The Office for Students has the authority to fine universities for failing to uphold free speech protections. Earlier this year, it issued a record £585,000 fine to the University of Sussex over its transgender and non-binary inclusion policy, which was criticized for suppressing freedom of speech. The case at Sussex also involved Kathleen Stock, a philosopher who left the institution amid protests over her gender-critical views. After that ruling, Bristol withdrew a similar policy that required all staff to remove “transphobic and anti-trans material” from campus. The recent law strengthening free speech protections in higher education has not yet been accompanied by the complaints process initially promised by the government.
Professor Sullivan has expressed to Arif Ahmed, the Office for Students’ director of free speech, that she believes “gender ideology” influenced Bristol’s attempts to obstruct her event. She told the BBC that university leaders “could have apologised” and committed to improvement, which she hopes they will do. The university’s spokesperson reiterated that every step taken supported free speech and public safety. They condemned the protesters’ behavior, describing it as not peaceful, and confirmed that disciplinary actions would follow if members of the university community were found responsible for unacceptable conduct. The vice-chancellor has since met with Professor Sullivan in an effort to address the situation
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.