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this article only presented the gender critical approach and did not balance it with an alternative sympathetic view, only presenting cases where gender critical won and not lost.
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'''Gender critical''' beliefs, such as the view that sex is fixed and should not be conflated with gender identity, are protected in law under the [[Equality Act 2010]]. [[Genspect]] define Gender critical as an outlook that believes that gender is a social construction, and – unlike biology, which is an objective reality – is neither an innate, essential nor deterministic quality.
'''Gender critical''' is a term used to describe a set of beliefs centred on the view that biological sex is fixed and should be treated as distinct from gender identity. The term is contested: some who hold these views describe them as a matter of established legal and philosophical principle, while others — including many trans people and LGBT organisations — regard the gender-critical movement as hostile to trans inclusion and rights. This article documents the term's use, associated organisations, and relevant legal cases; it does not take a position on the underlying debate.


In June 2021 Maya Forstater, who lost her job after saying that people cannot change their biological sex, won an appeal against an employment tribunal decision. Maya Forstater, 47, did not have her contract renewed after posting tweets on gender recognition <ref> Ms Forstater, from St Albans in Hertfordshire, did not have her contract renewed at the think tank Center for Global Development (CGD) in March 2019, after posting a series of tweets questioning government plans - which were later scrapped - to let people declare their own gender</ref>.
==Legal recognition==
She lost her original case at a tribunal in 2019, but a High Court judge ruled her "gender-critical" beliefs fell under the Equalities Act <ref>.
Maya Forstater v CGD Europe UKEAT/0105/20/JOJ, the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) found that gender-critical beliefs, such as the view that sex is fixed and should not be conflated with gender identity, did qualify for protection under the Equality Act 2010 (Equality Act). This means that “gender critical” beliefs are protected “philosophical beliefs” for equality law purposes </ref>. In June 2023 Forstater was awarded more than £100,000 in compensation by an employment tribunal <ref> Woman who lost job after tweeting view on biological sex awarded £100,000 The Guardian 1 July 2023 </ref>. Further examples of legal action were cited in an article in The Guardian in January 2024 <ref> 'A politically toxic issue’: the legal battles over gender-critical beliefs https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/19/a-politically-toxic-issue-the-legal-battles-over-gender-critical-beliefs 19 January 2024 </ref>. In February 2024 The [[Green Party]] was judged to have discriminated against former deputy leader Dr Shahrar Ali during a row over his gender critical beliefs <ref> https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-68250071 (accessed 9 February 2024) </ref>.


In 2022 the documentary feature film Adult Human Female was produced looking at the clash between women’s rights and trans ideology <ref> https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=94HFMSm-JBo (accessed 6 June 2023)</ref>.  
In the UK, gender-critical beliefs have been found to qualify for protection as a philosophical belief under the [[Equality Act 2010]]. In ''Forstater v CGD Europe'' (2021), the Employment Appeal Tribunal ruled that Maya Forstater's gender-critical beliefs were protected under the Act, overturning an earlier employment tribunal decision<ref>Maya Forstater v CGD Europe UKEAT/0105/20/JOJ. The Employment Appeal Tribunal found that gender-critical beliefs, including the view that sex is fixed and distinct from gender identity, qualify as a protected philosophical belief under the Equality Act 2010.</ref>. Forstater had not had her contract renewed by the Center for Global Development in 2019 after posting comments on government proposals regarding gender recognition<ref>Forstater's contract at the think tank Center for Global Development (CGD) was not renewed in March 2019, after she posted comments questioning then-proposed changes to gender recognition law, which were later not implemented.</ref>. In 2023 she was awarded compensation by an employment tribunal<ref>"Woman who lost job after tweeting view on biological sex awarded £100,000", The Guardian, 1 July 2023.</ref>.
In 2023 Channel 4 broadcast Gender Wars featuring [[Kathleen Stock]], a target of some transgender campaigners.


A number of groups have emerged which tend towards being called Gender Critical, such as [[LGBAlliance]], [[Lesbian Labour]]<ref> https://lesbianlabour.com/ </ref>,[[Sex Matters]], [[LGB Liberal Forum]], [[LGB Christians]], [[Sex Matters to Quakers]] and [[SEEN]].
Other instances where gender-critical beliefs have featured in legal or employment disputes include a 2024 tribunal finding that the [[Green Party]] discriminated against former deputy leader Dr Shahrar Ali in relation to his gender-critical views<ref>BBC News, 9 February 2024.</ref>, and the case of Rev. Dr Bernard Randall, who was barred from preaching by the [[Church of England]] after a sermon on related themes<ref>The Telegraph, 12 August 2024.</ref>. Legal disputes in this area have continued to develop; a January 2024 Guardian article reviewed several ongoing cases<ref>"'A politically toxic issue': the legal battles over gender-critical beliefs", The Guardian, 19 January 2024.</ref>.


In 2024  The [[Church of England]] found themselves being challenged for their treatment of a vicar who questioned gender ideology teaching in schools. Rev. Dr Bernard Randall lost his job after preaching a moderate sermon where he upheld the Christian teaching on marriage and told people they shouldn’t feel forced to accept LGBT ideology – or any other ideology <ref> https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/08/12/justin-welby-wrong-blacklisting-gender-critical-chaplain/ The Reverend Dr Bernard Randall remains barred from preaching after raising a question about LGBT relationships in a sermon  12 August 2024</ref>.
==Organisations==
 
A number of organisations describe themselves as gender-critical or campaign on related issues, including [[LGBAlliance]], [[Sex Matters]], [[LGB Liberal Forum]], [[LGB Christians]], [[Sex Matters to Quakers]], [[SEEN]], and Lesbian Labour<ref>https://lesbianlabour.com/</ref>. [[Genspect]], an international organisation associated with gender-critical perspectives, describes gender as "a social construction" which it distinguishes from biological sex<ref>Genspect website, accessed [date].</ref> — a position contested by many trans rights organisations and some academics, who regard gender identity as a legitimate and independent aspect of a person's identity.
 
==In media==
 
The 2022 documentary ''Adult Human Female'' presented a gender-critical perspective on debates around sex and gender recognition<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=94HFMSm-JBo, accessed 6 June 2023.</ref>. In 2023, Channel 4 broadcast ''Gender Wars'', featuring [[Kathleen Stock]], a gender-critical academic who has been the subject of protest from some trans rights campaigners.


==References==
==References==
<references>
<references/>


[[Category:Legislation]]
[[Category:Legislation]]
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[[Category:Articles with no pictures]]
[[Category:Terminology]]
[[Category:Terminology]]

Revision as of 13:20, 21 June 2026

Gender critical is a term used to describe a set of beliefs centred on the view that biological sex is fixed and should be treated as distinct from gender identity. The term is contested: some who hold these views describe them as a matter of established legal and philosophical principle, while others — including many trans people and LGBT organisations — regard the gender-critical movement as hostile to trans inclusion and rights. This article documents the term's use, associated organisations, and relevant legal cases; it does not take a position on the underlying debate.

In the UK, gender-critical beliefs have been found to qualify for protection as a philosophical belief under the Equality Act 2010. In Forstater v CGD Europe (2021), the Employment Appeal Tribunal ruled that Maya Forstater's gender-critical beliefs were protected under the Act, overturning an earlier employment tribunal decision[1]. Forstater had not had her contract renewed by the Center for Global Development in 2019 after posting comments on government proposals regarding gender recognition[2]. In 2023 she was awarded compensation by an employment tribunal[3].

Other instances where gender-critical beliefs have featured in legal or employment disputes include a 2024 tribunal finding that the Green Party discriminated against former deputy leader Dr Shahrar Ali in relation to his gender-critical views[4], and the case of Rev. Dr Bernard Randall, who was barred from preaching by the Church of England after a sermon on related themes[5]. Legal disputes in this area have continued to develop; a January 2024 Guardian article reviewed several ongoing cases[6].

Organisations

A number of organisations describe themselves as gender-critical or campaign on related issues, including LGBAlliance, Sex Matters, LGB Liberal Forum, LGB Christians, Sex Matters to Quakers, SEEN, and Lesbian Labour[7]. Genspect, an international organisation associated with gender-critical perspectives, describes gender as "a social construction" which it distinguishes from biological sex[8] — a position contested by many trans rights organisations and some academics, who regard gender identity as a legitimate and independent aspect of a person's identity.

In media

The 2022 documentary Adult Human Female presented a gender-critical perspective on debates around sex and gender recognition[9]. In 2023, Channel 4 broadcast Gender Wars, featuring Kathleen Stock, a gender-critical academic who has been the subject of protest from some trans rights campaigners.

References

  1. ↑ Maya Forstater v CGD Europe UKEAT/0105/20/JOJ. The Employment Appeal Tribunal found that gender-critical beliefs, including the view that sex is fixed and distinct from gender identity, qualify as a protected philosophical belief under the Equality Act 2010.
  2. ↑ Forstater's contract at the think tank Center for Global Development (CGD) was not renewed in March 2019, after she posted comments questioning then-proposed changes to gender recognition law, which were later not implemented.
  3. ↑ "Woman who lost job after tweeting view on biological sex awarded £100,000", The Guardian, 1 July 2023.
  4. ↑ BBC News, 9 February 2024.
  5. ↑ The Telegraph, 12 August 2024.
  6. ↑ "'A politically toxic issue': the legal battles over gender-critical beliefs", The Guardian, 19 January 2024.
  7. ↑ https://lesbianlabour.com/
  8. ↑ Genspect website, accessed [date].
  9. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=94HFMSm-JBo, accessed 6 June 2023.
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