Adult Human Female Filmmakers vs University and College Union (UCU)
Gender-critical documentary makers allege discrimination
Two filmmakers are suing the University and College Union (UCU) for discrimination based on gender-critical beliefs.
Deirdre O’Neill and Michael Wayne, who are academic members of the UCU, faced activist backlash over their 2022 documentary Adult Human Female, which argues that sex is biological and critiques the trans movement’s impact on women’s rights.
LGBTQ+ groups and the local UCU branch protested planned screenings at the University of Edinburgh, leading to cancellations in December 2022 and April 2023. Demonstrators reportedly blocking access.
UCU condemned the film as a “clear attack on trans people’s identities” and said it breached the university’s “respect” policy.
The filmmakers claim UCU’s public opposition amounts to unlawful discrimination.
Watch the documentary Adult Human Female
More info at In Defence of Academic Freedom
Case Info
The hearing is scheduled to begin on 31st March 2025 over 5 days at Watford Employment Tribunal.
Live tweeting sessions
Note: The Tuesday morning session is a pdf document, taken as contemporaneous notes and not live tweeted as our reporting status was uncertain for a period. Judge subsequent confirmed permission to live tweet.
1st April morning session - Part one and Part two
1st April afternoon session - Part one and Part two
2nd April morning session - Part one and part two [a few tweets at the beginning are missing - full thread here]
2nd April afternoon session - Part one only
3rd April morning session - Part one and Part Two
3rd April afternoon session - Part one and part two
4th April Part one and part two
Abbreviations
J - Employment Judge Laidler
P - Panel member
DON/C1 - Deirdre O’Neill, claimant C, Senior Lecturer in Film Theory and Practice, Uni of Herts
MW/C2 - Prof Michael Wayne, claimant C, Prof of Media and Film, Brunel Uni, London
NC - Naomi Cunningham, C’s barrister
CE - Charlotte Elves, C's barrister
UCU - University and College Union, respondent R
RC - Respondent's counsel, Tom Brown
AHF - Documentary ‘Adult Human Female’
RM - Reality Matters, documentary production company
UE - University of Edinburgh
EAFAF - Edinburgh Academics for Academic Freedom
AF - Academic freedom
FoE - Freedom of expression
GC - Gender critical
HS - Hate speech
SU - Student Union
SPS - [student's] Pride Society
SPN - Staff Pride Network
SSSN - Staff Student Solidarity Network
UCG - University Compliance Group
PM - Prof Peter Mathieson, UE’s Principal and Vice-Chancellor
DRP - [UE’s] Dignity and Respect Policy
PS - Police Scotland
SPS - Student's Pride Society
GB - Grant Buttars, Branch President/ Acting Branch President/ Communications Officer, UCU Edinburgh
SB - Dr Shereen Benjamin, Senior Lecturer in Education, founder member of EAFAF
KD - Dr Kate Davidson, Lecturer in the History of Sexuality
JG - Jo Brady, General Secretary of UCU
DK - Deborah Kayembe, Rector of Edinburgh University 2021-2024
KM - Katy Montgomerie, Social Media Influencer and LGBT rights advocate
MS - Mary Senior, UCU Scotland Official
LW - Dr Lena Wånggren, President, UCU Scotland (May 2021-May 2023)
TS - Transexual
SS - Single sex
SO Sex offender
MOJ - Ministry of Justice
TG - Transgender
WC - Working class
MC - Middle class
TW - Transwoman
WPUK - Woman’s Place UK
S/G - Sex/gender
WS - Witness Statement
Press coverage
This section includes links to a selection of press coverage, that may include blogs, videos and interviews about the case. These links are included without comment and are not endorsed by Tribunal Tweets. This is a sample of coverage only - it is not comprehensive. Please DM our main Twitter account to submit coverage from an established news outlet. Any paywalled article must be archived.
6th April 2025
Scotsman - Edinburgh University gender row proves dangerous idealogues face a reckoning
3rd April 2025
Scottish Daily Express - 'I Love JK Rowling' stickers were not a 'transphobic dog whistle', employment tribunal told
Telegraph - Union ‘tried to stop gender-critical views being expressed at university’
31st March 2025
Guardian - UK academics accuse their union of discrimination over gender-critical film
29th March 2025
The Times - Discrimination claim launched over ‘transphobic’ documentary
14th March 2025
Times Higher education - Gender-critical documentary makers take UCU to tribunal
30th November 2023
Christian institute - Edinburgh Uni hosts pro-women film screening almost one year after first planned
22nd November 2023
BBC - Adult Human Female film is shown in Edinburgh
The Times - Film targeted by trans rights protesters is shown at university
21st November 2023
BBC - Free speech group hopeful for Adult Human Female film screening
10th October 2023
12th May 2023
Guardian - Edinburgh University tries to defuse row after trans rights protests over film
5th May 2023
University of Edinburgh - A statement from the Principal about the Edinburgh Academics for Academic Freedom (AFAF) event.
30th April 2023
Women's Place UK - An open letter to Edinburgh University
27th April 2023
Scotsman - Adult Human Female: How Edinburgh University found itself at the centre of 'transphobic' film row
STV - Protesters branded 'troublemakers' for blocking 'biased' film screening
Edinburgh news - Edinburgh University film row: Humza Yousaf backs showing of documentary but restates support for trans rights
The Times - ‘Anti-democratic’ trans groups prevent gender film screening
Times Higher Education - Edinburgh film showing shut down again after trans rights protest
Tess White MSP raises Adult Human Female backlash in parliament
26th April 2023
Guardian - Edinburgh University cancels film screening after trans rights protest
BBC - Screening of film about transgender issues cancelled a second time
7th April 2023
Belfast telegraph - English beer company cuts ties with Belfast pub following ‘secret screening’ of documentary
4th January 2023
Times Higher Education - Film-makers in trans rights row say debate is being shut down
15th December 2022
STV - Trans rights activists block lecture hall to stop screening of film
Edinburgh news - Edinburgh University students block lecture hall to stop screening of 'transphobic' film Adult Human Female
Times Higher Education - Edinburgh film screening no-platformed over ‘transphobia’
BBC - University of Edinburgh film screening cancelled due to protest
14th December 2022
13th December 2022
Edinburgh Tab - ‘Transphobic’ film event to go ahead at Edinburgh University despite outcry
3rd December 2022
Pink News - Police called to protect anti-trans activists from friendly protesters ‘waving and smiling’