On Wednesday 11 October, the University of Edinburgh hosted a book launch event for the book ‘Sex and Gender: A Contemporary Reader’.
The book is written by a selection of academics including some from the University of Edinburgh.
Authors of the book describe the work as “a much-needed exploration of the relationship between sex, gender and gender identity.”
The book launch was, however, condemned by the Edinburgh branch of the University and College Union (UCU).
In an article, The Times revealed that Edinburgh’s UCU branch had written to an estimated 2,000 staff and research students calling for a protest, and urged university Vice Principal Sir Peter Mathieson to cancel the event.
UCU Edinburgh in their email expressed their “concerns about the launch of a transphobic book on campus”.
The union branch said essays in the book “reduce trans people to an abstract anomaly or sinister cabal and breached the Equality Act.”
The book launch event description states that: “we welcome robust discussion and a range of views and ask that all attendees familiarise themselves with the University of Edinburgh’s Dignity and Respect Policy and comply with it.”
The book launch event came in light of the University of Edinburgh’s decision in both December and April to screen the controversial film ‘Adult Human Female’.
Both attempted screenings were cancelled due to protests.
Filmmakers of ‘Adult Human Female’ described the film as “the first UK documentary feature to look at the clash between women’s rights and trans ideology.”
Critics however, including the University of Edinburgh’s Pride Society and UCU Edinburgh, described the film as “Transphobic”.
Following the cancellation of both screenings the university was accused by those hoping to attend the film as: “stifling free speech”.
“University of Edinburgh” by Ipoh kia is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0.