Julie Bindel Julie Bindel

Why liberals must stand with Kathleen Stock

Kathleen Stock. Credit: Sonali Fernando

I know what it feels like to be bullied and vilified for expressing views with which, eventually, many right-minded people end up agreeing. I am talking, of course, about transgender ideology and the case of Professor Kathleen Stock which this week was belatedly picked up by the mainstream press.

In short, a group of University of Sussex students started a campaign for Stock to be sacked on the spot, claiming she was ‘espousing a bastardised version of radical feminism that excludes and endangers trans people’. The group – a collection of poundshop Antifas – said Stock was a danger to transgender people, arguing: ‘We’re not up for debate. We cannot be reasoned out of existence.’ The leaflet accompanying the stickers and ‘Stock Out’ flag decorated with blue smoke reads: ‘Fire Kathleen Stock. Otherwise you’ll see us around.’

In response, her own union branch threw Stock under the bus. On Tuesday, UCU Sussex – which is meant to protect its employees – released a statement that failed to condone the bullying and intimidation she has faced, and instead called for an investigation into ‘institutional transphobia’. This shameful statement could effectively end Stock’s career at Sussex University, except that hundreds, probably even thousands of us that are disgusted with this witch hunt will loudly and persistently protest this latest atrocity.

What Kathleen Stock is enduring feels all too familiar. This is not being ‘cancelled’ and ‘no-platformed’ – although that does happen (despite rabid denials to the contrary). It’s about waking up every day in dread about inevitable public humiliation. Going to an event or worse, a place of work, and knowing that the angry mob will be there. It would be easy to focus on the masked, combat-cladded maniacs setting off smoke bombs, but while these people are intimidating bullies, we must have an honest conversation about how it came to this.

How did a much loved and respected professor of philosophy, end up accused of hate crime, bigotry and worse?

How did a much loved and respected professor of philosophy, end up accused of hate crime, bigotry and worse? What led to the dreadful events in recent days that caused this treasured academic to have a panic attack in her place of work? How did this happen at an institution that is supposedly renowned for freethinking and open debate, where young students are supposed to be taught how to become critical thinkers?

The answer, as ever, is in the enablers and the bystanders.

Already a subscriber? Log in

Keep reading with a free trial

Subscribe and get your first month of online and app access for free. After that it’s just £1 a week.

There’s no commitment, you can cancel any time.

Or

Unlock more articles

REGISTER

Comments

Don't miss out

Join the conversation with other Spectator readers. Subscribe to leave a comment.

Already a subscriber? Log in