By Emily Caulkett-
Protests planned by students of Oxford University over the invitation of a former university professor to speak on transgender issues is immature and ignores the rights of free expression.
Stock(pictured) has been invited to speak at the Oxford Union, the university’s 200-year-old debating society, on 30 May, and will not show up to insult or discriminate against transgroups, but may express opinions they do not find flattering. Unflattering views do not present a bar on free speech, but sensitivity to the feelings of marginalised groups is always important in some respects.
The former University of Sussex lecturer has been outspoken in her trans-exclusionary views and has emphasised that she is not transphobic.
Students have been promised welfare resources for the occasion, but there is no mandatory requirement for anybody to attend the event, meaning that individuals who may be affected by her speech do not have to be present.
In July 2018, the professor spoke against single-sex spaces allowing trans women in, saying “many trans women are still males with male genitalia, many are sexually attracted to females, and they should not be in places where females undress or sleep, in a completely unrestricted way.”
She has also claimed self-ID “threatens a secure understanding of the concept ‘lesbian’”, and made headlines for helping found The Lesbian Project, alongside fellow gender-critical activist Julie Bindel.
The motions come as students at the university prepare to protest against Stock’s appearance, and use the rally as a platform to launch Oxford Trans+ Pride.
Oxford students participating in the protests say their objective is to celebrate trans people in Oxford, while taking a stance against Stock’s views.
The president of the university’s LGBTQ+ society, Amiad Haran Diman, told The Eye Of Media.Com: “Our motivation is not to attack the union or Kathleen Stock, because we think they love the attention. The reason we are doing this is for the trans community of Oxford – it’s for our trans siblings so that they know someone is standing up for them.”
The question is whether they need anyone to stand up for them just because a speaker is expressing potentially critical views about transgender people
Critiss of the professor say she has called for the exclusion of trans people from the LGBTTQ and supported supporting conversion therapy, something they say is harmful to the minds of transgender people.
But transgender students have no obligation to pay attention to those views nor undertake any form of conversion therapy allegedly suggested by Stock. Neither do they have to attend events hosted by speakers whose views upset them.
Prof Stock, who quit her job as a professor from the University of Sussex in October 2021 after being “hounded” for her gender-critical views, is due to speak at the prestigious Oxford Union debating club later in May.
The union said it was committed to free speech, which it described as a “core foundational principle”.
A spokesman said: “In light of this, the Society will take active steps to ensure that the event on May 30th goes ahead as planned.
“We acknowledge that some of our speakers may hold views that some find offensive – but regardless believe that we must debate complex issues in full.
“Given the sensitive nature of Dr Stock’s views, welfare support will be available.”
Matthew Dick, president of the Oxford Union, said the society would seek to make sure the event went ahead despite criticism, but added that members’ welfare would be “attended to”.
Kathleen Stock OBE says the group term LGBTQ+ is ‘totally unhelpful’.
He said: “The Union aims to challenge Professor Kathleen Stock’s views and provide a platform for members to question her beliefs in a ‘mini-debate’ format, where members will have an automatic right of reply to their questions, so to uphold the freedom of expression of our members as well that of Professor Stock.
“The Union assures its members’ welfare will be attended to during the event, providing welfare spaces devoted to this, and encourages dissenting members to challenge Professor Stock’s opinions, as the Union is devoted to promoting free speech both ways.”
Prominent journalist, Helen Joyce, an outspoken critic of transgenders, was greeted by protesters at Cambridge University, when she she was invited to give a talk by academics at the university.
Professor Stock is likely to encounter similar strong protests when she arrives to give her speech later this month.