University Cancels Film After Trans-Rights Protesters Blockade Venue

Adult Human Female cancelled

The University of Edinburgh sign on May 13, 2015. (PA Media)

A Scottish university has been accused of siding with a “censorious minority” after it cancelled the screening of a film following trans-rights protests.

Tess White, MSP for Scotland’s north-east region, said Edinburgh University had censored free speech by pulling the plug on showing “Adult Human Female”—a documentary asserting that women are defined solely by their biological sex.

The screening was organised with the university’s support after a previous event in December was also cancelled when protesters occupied a screening room minutes before it was due to be shown.

On Wednesday, the entrance to a lecture hall in George Square was blockaded by protestors several hours before the film was due to be screened.

According to the Conservative politician—who was at the campus to watch the 90-minute documentary—people were “physically prevented” from attending the viewing.

The university has said it worked with the event’s organisers over the issue, however, a decision to cancel the screening was taken due to safety concerns.

Describing the decision as “disgraceful,” White posted on Twitter: “For the second time, women have been shut out of Edinburgh University for trying to discuss their rights.

“They might have shut us out, but we won’t let them shut down our freedom of speech.”

‘Worrying Pattern’

She has now sent a letter to the university’s provost setting out her “deep disappointment” over the event’s cancellation.

The letter, seen by The Epoch Times, states: “This was supposed to have been an opportunity for people to exchange their views on women’s rights in the kind of environment that should not only facilitate freedom of speech, but actively defend it.

“Instead, Edinburgh University sided with a censorious minority who shut down debate by shutting women out.”

White said that the physical prevention of guests attending the screening “continues a worrying pattern for an academic institution that claims to be committed to academic freedom and freedom of expression.”

She added, “Warm words are not enough when such fundamental principles are at stake.

“I sincerely hope Edinburgh University will work with the event’s organisers to ensure the screening can still take place, and that it can do so without heavily restrictive conditions which limit the level of public participation.”

The issue was also raised in Parliament by Scottish National Party MP Joanna Cherry.

“It’s lesbian visibility week yet as my alma mater Edinburgh University flew the lesbian visibility flag yesterday and advocated for inclusion, last night it failed for a second time to stop a masked mob from preventing the screening of a documentary called Adult Human Female,” she said.

“The film features feminists and lesbians, including my friends, Dr Shereen Benjamin, Lucy Masoud, and Professor Jo Phoenix, talking about how important it is to be heard about their lesbian identity and experience.

“So can I ask Leader of the House can we have a debate about how we prevent lesbian erasure and the intimidation of lesbians in our civic life including at our universities?”

In response, Penny Mordaunt said she would raise the matter with the Minister for Women and Equalities as well as the Home Secretary.

In a statement sent to The Epoch Times on Thursday, an Edinburgh University spokesperson said it was “fully committed to upholding freedom of expression and academic freedom” and was “disappointed” the event did not go ahead.

The statement added: “In line with our commitment to fostering an inclusive, supportive and safe environment for our whole community, we worked with the organisers and put measures in place to mitigate risks associated with the event.

“However, with protesters restricting access to the venue, safety concerns were raised should the event proceed. It was therefore decided that the screening should not continue.”

Transphobic Claims

Made by independent filmmakers Deirdre O'Neill and Mike Wayne, Adult Human Female bills itself as an “explainer about the issues, how far things have already changed for the worse for women and how difficult it has been to be heard, to be listened to.”

Through a series of interviews, the film recounts the impact of gender self-ID on single-sex spaces for women, ranging from prisons to health care to sport to lesbian dating sites.

Critics accuse it of being transphobic by denying that trans women have equality with biological women and claim it puts forward unevidenced arguments.

Supporters argue that it sets out the legal and biological basis for sex and the necessity for protecting sex-based rights.

University and College Union (UCU) Edinburgh was one of the groups that turned out to protest against the film.

Posting images of protestors lining the street across from the venue, UCU posted on Twitter: “It’s big and we’ve only just started. No to hate on campus.”

Videos later uploaded to social media showed masked protestors blocking all entrances to the building.

Lucy Masoud, a black lesbian who survived the 1999 homophobic bombing of London’s Admiral Duncan pub, is one of those interviewed in the documentary.

In a video posted to social media on Thursday, she criticised those who stopped the film from being screened.

She said, “I have no power in this world, I have no say in anything, but I was asked to be in this documentary so that my words could be heard by other people.

“That was an immense honour for me, something that will never happen again.

“You have prevented that from happening. One day you will wake up and realise that what you did was wrong.”