A lawyer linked to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is being taken to court by her department after making critical statements about gender in the workplace, including expressing her belief that only women have their rules.
Elspeth Duemmer Wrigley, who works for “an arm’s length agency” and chairs a civil service network representing staff with critical gender views, will appear at an employment tribunal next week charged with harassment following to comments and messages shared about work.
She claims an employee of another Defra-affiliated body is also suing her department for allowing its Sexual Equality and Equity Network (SEEN) to exist.
Among the reasons given for the lawsuit, she claims that the plaintiff is suing her for a statement made during a seminar on “Women and Autism” in which she said that “only women have periods.”
According to Ms Duemmer Wrigley, the applicant – who has not been named – believes that the existence of the network “has the effect of creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating and/or offensive environment for the applicant”.
Elspeth Duemmer Wrigley says she is being sued over comments and messages she made at work.
In her crowdfunding, Ms. Duemmer Wrigley said her department was being sued, among other reasons, for “allowing our departmental SEEN network to exist.”
She cites a number of reasons why she is personally being sued, including the seminar’s statement and a message listing the nine protected characteristics, not including gender expression, gender identity or gender following “errors in staff training” which included them.
She also says she’s being sued for sharing a link to a “well-known children’s book,” a link to an interview with “detransitioner and fellow public servant Ritchie Herron,” and a link to an article written by a fellow lesbian speaking about his Jamaican life. heritage and experience of being a lesbian in public service.
And she notes a statement made on an internal work forum “in which I explained why I was gender critical.”
In the statement, Ms Duemmer Wrigley said: “A number of organizations and charities specifically cater to those with protected beliefs regarding gender identity (e.g. Mermaids, Stonewall and Gires). Writers and activists who share these beliefs are published on Yammer.
“However, while we sometimes take positions that some may consider controversial, the exploration of different points of view is welcome. After all, we are an organization with many different perspectives.
She adds: “I would also be happy to speak directly with anyone interested, particularly to dispel some of the myths that this is a position rooted in ignorance, intolerance or hatred, or that those like me harbor ill will towards these people. in other communities.
“I am sure there are more commonalities than differences in this sometimes heated debate.”
Ms. Duemmer Wrigley claims that all of her actions are protected by Articles 9 and 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, under the rights to freedom of belief and expression respectively.
She mentions that she is “limited by (her) situation” in how she can currently describe the matter and says she cannot comment on what other parties are doing on it.
But she says that if the complaint is successful, it is “likely that any critical gender statements… are likely to be difficult, if not impossible, to make within the civil service and its related agencies”.
She notes that the SEEN network is one of the first gender-critical staff networks in any organization, and that since its inception a number of similar groups have emerged in the city, police, parliament , human resources and in STEM fields.
Ms. Duemmer Wrigley says she has submitted an ET3 response – to respond to a complaint of illegal treatment made by an employee – and the next step will be the preliminary hearing on March 25.
Enlisting the help of her supporters to fund her legal costs, she has since raised more than £21,000 of a £40,000 target.
She says if there are any funds left at the end of the case, they will be shared “with any critical gender litigation in the public sector”.
Deposit. Ms Duemmer Wrigley claims an employee of another Defra-affiliated body is also suing the department for allowing its Sexual Equality and Equity Network (SEEN) to exist.
The Cabinet Office provides advice on SEEN, SEO one’s self-definition it is “a network of staff committed to promoting and supporting gender equality and gender equity in our workplaces, and helping all staff to thrive at work and realize its potential.
It states that “the aim of our network is to combat sex discrimination and uphold sex-related rights and protections (including protections afforded to persons with the protected characteristics of sex, pregnancy, maternity and of sexual orientation, as provided for in the Equality Act). 2010).
SEEN membership is open to UK civil servants and public sector staff – central government departments and agencies and their associated public bodies, including independent bodies, the group says.
MailOnline has contacted SEEN and Defra for comment.