• Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea University, Singleton Campus, SwanseaSA2 8PZ
• Tickets £15 / £18 (*)

If any man can ‘be’ a woman, or any woman a man, what use is the Equality Act 2010 in preventing sex discrimination?

This question is critical for Wales and its political landscape. In legislative matters such as the Bill for Reform of Senedd Electoral Candidate Lists, which sets out to change the law to increase the number of women standing for election, the incorrect citing of the protected characteristic of ‘sex’ as ‘sex/gender’ may confuse and undermine the aims of the proposed law change.

For this, our second annual Outspoken Women event, we welcome Maya Forstater and Helen Joyce from the human rights charity Sex Matters and Akua Reindorf KC. Prof Jo Phoenix will chair the conversation which will cover equality, lawfare, women’s rights and other related issues in what promises to be a lively evening of conversation and, perhaps, controversy.

Maya Forstater, founder of the human rights charity Sex Matters, lost her job with the Centre for Global Development because she believes in the material reality of sex. In 2021 an Employment Tribunal Appeal court found that her gender critical views were a protected belief and worthy of respect in a democratic society.

Helen Joyce was a mathematician before becoming a journalist and joining The Economist. In 2021, following her research into gender ideology and transgender issues, she wrote Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality, which became a Sunday Times bestseller. She is now director of advocacy at Sex Matters.

Akua Reindorf KC is a barrister who specialises in employment, discrimination and human rights law. She is the author of the Reindorf Review, commissioned  by Essex University after the deplatforming of two academics because of their gender critical views.

Prof Jo Phoenix of Reading University appeared at the Taliesin last year, prior to the Employment Tribunal that found that The Open University had bullied and harassed her, discriminated against her, wrongfully constructively dismissed her and subjected her to post employment victimisation on the basis of her gender critical beliefs. Jo is a criminologist, sociologist and a leading proponent of free speech in academia.

Ticket prices:

• Early bird until 31st May: £15.
• Full price from 1st June: £18.

We know that it won’t be possible for everyone who would like to attend this event to make it to Swansea. If you can’t attend but would like to show your support, you can donate towards our costs here. Thank you.

(*) Book online at https://www.taliesinartscentre.co.uk/en/performances?id=60133

April 26, 2024