The UK Law Gazette reports
Human rights set Garden Court Chambers discriminated against criminal barrister Allison Bailey because of her gender-critical beliefs, an employment tribunal ruled today. However the tribunal did not uphold Bailey’s complaint against campaign group Stonewall which she claimed put pressure on the chambers to discipline her.
The high-profile six-week hearing followed last year’s Employment Appeal Tribunal ruling in Forstater v CGD Europe that belief in the immutability of sex is protected under the Equality Act 2010. Bailey, a founder of a campaign group for same-sex attracted people, LGB Alliance, had alleged that she was offered inferior briefs because of her beliefs.
In today’s ruling, the tribunal found that Bailey had been discriminated against and victimised. She was awarded £22,000, £2,000 of which is aggravated damages.
In a statement, Bailey, called in 2001, said: ‘This is a vindication for all those who, like me, object to the erasure of biological sex, of women, and of same sex attraction as material realities. It represents judicial recognition of the abuse waged against us.
‘I am disappointed not to have won my claim against Stonewall. But this should not obscure Stonewall’s role in creating the environment in which discrimination against gender critical women and lesbians has been allowed to flourish. It never occurred to me as I was building my career that the organisation which would prove my biggest obstacle would be a charity set up ostensibly to protect people like me.’
In a statement, Garden Court Chambers said: ‘We are reviewing today’s judgment, which dismissed Ms Bailey’s claim against Stonewall and most of her claims against Garden Court Chambers including all her claims for indirect discrimination.
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