After I spoke up about the clash between women’s sex-based rights and gender ideology I was cancelled, silenced and dishonoured by my own trade union, the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS). I am bringing a claim against them in the employment tribunal complaining of gender critical discrimination.

In 2019 I retired as a Civil Servant in the Scottish Government and in February 2020 I was delighted to be nominated to receive a Distinguished Life Membership (DLM) Award. This recognised 20 years of work standing up for workers’ rights, including as vice-chair of the Scotland Committee, Vice-President of the Scottish Government Group and as the only female chair of the National Standing Orders Committee and on the National Women's Forum.

I am a proud trade unionist, but my last years with PCS Union were frustrating and unhappy because I rejected gender identity ideology. I believe it threatens collective action and the safety of women and children. Since 2016 I had become concerned about motions being put forward undermining the Equality Act and women’s rights in favour of trans rights. When I spoke up, I faced first the familiar wall of silence, and then accusations of “transphobia”.

On 24th of March 2021 I was informed that my DLM Award nomination had been rejected because of my gender critical views.

Around 2022 I was then nominated for another award, the national DLM award. There were also repeated attempts to stop this nomination, but it was finally accepted and put to a vote of the National Delegate Conference in May 2022. I was scheduled to receive the award at the PCS annual conference in May 2023.

I planned to refer to the controversy in my speech.

Unfortunately, due to illness, I was unable to attend the May 2023 Conference to accept the award in person and since then the union has snubbed my repeated requests for me to receive it at Conference. In June 2025, the union’s General Secretary confirmed I would not be invited to receive my award in person and that it would be posted to me. It never has been.

I believe that the real reason the union is refusing to invite me to Conference to publicly recognise me for my work is because of my beliefs that sex is real, binary and immutable. 

Why this case is important

Many people within the PCS and other trade unions are afraid to speak up. A culture of authoritarianism which silences opposition has captured the union. The culture of fear is like the worst excesses of McCarthyism.

My treatment by the PCS illustrates how members who express gender critical beliefs are criticised, harassed and silenced.

I believe there are those within the leadership of PCS who share my beliefs but remain silent. Of course, there are others in the union who are actively promoting this culture of fear and who wrongly remain in positions of power.

In workplaces around the country the PCS and other trade unions are complicit in promoting the narrative that those who hold and manifest protected gender critical beliefs are transphobic and bigoted. This is what leads to gender critical workers being discriminated against and harassed. They are then abandoned by their trade union, instead of supported to bring claims against their employer.

Gender critical beliefs were validated by the recent Supreme Court For Women Scotland ruling, yet the PCS has publicly stated its opposition to the judgement and its intention to contest it. This stance sends a strong, discouraging message to women like me, who continue to face hostility from our union and our employers for holding legitimate and legally protected views.

I want accountability for the PCS’s decision to deny me the opportunity to receive my award at conference.

I hope my legal case will highlight the bullying and hostility toward members with gender critical beliefs and encourage the union to step up and effectively advocate for and represent members irrespective of their protected beliefs.

My primary objective is to expose the capture of the PCS (and the wider trade union movement) by gender ideology and how this has been weaponised to intimidate and silence those who speak up for women’s rights.

What am I am asking the employment tribunal for if I win my case?

If I win my claim I will be asking the tribunal to make a declaration that the union has discriminated against me on the grounds of my gender critical beliefs; that it recommends that I am permitted to attending the Annual Conference to accept my award in the normal way and the union is ordered to pay me compensation for injury to hurt feelings.

My objective in bringing the case is to also highlight the union’s poor treatment of members with gender critical views and to give other members who have faced similar experiences the courage to stand up and speak out. I hope to send a clear message to the union that it risks legal challenges, reputational damage and financial penalties if it does do not uphold women’s rights and freedom of expression and belief.

Please support my case

I am seeking your financial support to fund this important legal case. I am represented by Margaret Gribbon who is acting for Sandie Peggie in her case against NHS Fife, and her ongoing case against the RCN nursing union.

Any contribution no matter how small will greatly assist me to bring this legal challenge.

In addition, I would appreciate your assistance in sharing this information with your networks, family, friends, across social media, and throughout the trade union movement. Your involvement and advocacy are essential to ensure that these concerns are heard and addressed within our movement.

If you cannot afford to contribute it will help me enormously if you could share my crowdfunding page.

My initial target for stage 1 litigation fees is £17,500.

Thank you for your interest in my case and for your invaluable support in helping me hold the PCS to account for discriminating against me because of my gender critical beliefs.

Media coverage of my case

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/25342759.union-activist-sues-claiming-gender-critical-discrimination/

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/25342843.union-campaigner-cancelled-trans-rights-activists/