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  "path": "/news/trans-row-gender-lectures-oxford-university",
  "publishedAt": "2026-06-11T10:51:50.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "Equalities watchdog forced to move office after threats from trans activists",
    "Sports bodies 'defying Supreme Court ruling' to allow trans athletes to compete",
    "Girl, 5, left 'distressed' after being forced to share unisex school toilets with boys",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nGender lectures should be brought back despite protests from transgender activists, academics have urged Oxford University.\n\nMore than 100 academics have called on the university to reinstate a lecture series on gender after it was cancelled amid protests.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nAmong the 117 academics is Professor Richard Dawkins, who famously wrote The God Delusion.\n\nHe and other signatories wrote to The Times after Dr Michael Foran's gender law lectures were cancelled by the prestigious university.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe lectures would explore how the issues of sex and gender have impacted the law, such as the controversies over single-sex spaces, privacy, sport, sexual intimacy and freedom of expression.\n\nDr Foran, an associate professor of law at Oxford, was scheduled to deliver four lectures on the themes of his new book: _Sex, Gender Identity and the Law_.\n\nOn Sunday, however, the gender and equality law expert confirmed on social media he was cancelling the remainder of his talks after the first two were interrupted by protesters, calling it \"lamentable\".\n\nHe wrote on X: \"Due to escalating disruptive protests, I have decided to cancel the remainder of these lectures.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\"This is deeply lamentable, but the disruption has undermined the academic nature of this series.\n\n\"Students shouldn't face bullying or harassment when attending academic events.\"\n\nHe continued to describe how protesters had \"disrupted the event for about 10 minutes\".\n\nThe academic said he had to cancel because he \"cannot guarantee for attendees, including students, that further disruption won't occur\".\n\n### LATEST DEVELOPMENTS\n\n\n\n\n  * Equalities watchdog forced to move office after threats from trans activists\n  * Sports bodies 'defying Supreme Court ruling' to allow trans athletes to compete\n  * Girl, 5, left 'distressed' after being forced to share unisex school toilets with boys\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nVideos from the disruption show the trans activists, who are understood to also attend the university, standing in front of Prof Foran, calling him a \"bigot\".\n\nThe protester said the academic \"masks his transphobia behind a thin veneer of academia\".\n\nThey continued: \"If you are here in a critical capacity to challenge his ideas … that is not the same as refusing to platform him. He will not be convinced by your arguments. Please join me in walking out and refusing to platform this bigot.\"\n\nOxford University's proctors' office had given permission for the protest to go ahead.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nIt is the role of the office to approve protests occurring at the university, which should be peaceful and not disturb \"the lawful exercise of freedom of speech\".\n\nHowever, sources from the university described the protest as disruptive, rather than peaceful.\n\nIn the letter, the 117 signatories wrote, they wrote: \"It appears that the university proctors authorised and facilitated protests inside the lecture theatre and did nothing to remove miscreants.\n\n\"Members of the proctors’ office, including senior figures, can be seen in videos of the disruption.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\"The proctors have enabled the exercise of a heckler’s veto.\"\n\nThe letter urged the university to reinstate Dr Foran's lectures as well as the proctors needed to \"receive training to ensure they understand their duties\".\n\nAn Oxford spokesman said freedom of speech and academic freedom were central to its values, but added it also supported the right to lawful protest and civil disagreement.\n\nThey said the university remained committed to working with Dr Foran to find a way for his remaining lectures to proceed.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Gender lectures should be brought back despite trans protests, academics urge Oxford University"
}