A PhD student has expressed her sadness in court over what she claims was “intimidation” from transgender rights activists at her university.
Raquel Rosario Sánchez has launched civil action claiming the University of Bristol failed to protect her from harassment and bullying over her involvement with the campaign group Woman’s Place UK.
Bristol civil and family justice centre heard how the student notified the Russell Group university on 1 February 2018 that she wanted to make a complaint about “malicious rumours” she said were being spread about her.
The court heard that activists had protested against a talk by Rosario Sánchez ahead of her hosting it, labelling her a “Terf” (trans-exclusionary radical feminist) and claiming she was “spreading hate about trans people”.
Rosario Sánchez said: “I just felt very sad because I just want to live my life, go to campus and go to my centre and not have to face intimidation. In March 2018, I thought I was going to get that, but now knowing how long this has taken is making me sad.”
The district judge Alexander Ralton told the court he would assess whether the university handled the conflict between Rosario Sánchez and the activists correctly, and would not be making a judgment about gender rights.
He said: “Some might regard proceedings as about trans rights and feminist rights, but the proceedings are not about that. This case is about Bristol University’s handling of conflict. I am sure counsel would say it’s a lot more complicated than that, and indeed it is, but this is the heart of the matter.”
Rosario Sánchez began her PhD course at the University of Bristol in January 2018.
A Woman’s Place UK describes its aim as “to end to violence, harassment and abuse of women and girls”. Critics argue that the campaign seeks to limit trans people’s rights and dismisses the validity of some trans people’s gender identity.
On a crowdfunding page set up to raise money for her legal battle, Rosario Sánchez describes herself as a “feminist writer, campaigner and researcher”.
In a blogpost written ahead of the hearing, she claimed: “Ideological puritans staffing the university’s diversity and inclusion office have sought to erase virtually any term that communicates the reality of female biology.” She said a whistleblower at the university told her she had been reported to human resources for saying: “You have to have a uterus to give birth.”
A University of Bristol spokesperson said: “Ms Rosario Sánchez has chosen to take legal action against the university. Given this, we will not comment further. All concerns about harassment or bullying are taken seriously and action taken in accordance with our university policies. If staff or students have concerns or complaints, we encourage them to raise them directly with us.
“We are committed to making our university a place where all feel safe, welcomed and respected, regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation, disability or social background.”
The trial is due to last for five days.
