Professor Alice Sullivan, a prominent academic known for leading a government review on sex and gender data collection, is contemplating legal proceedings against the University of Bristol. She accuses the institution of not safeguarding her freedom of speech after a trans rights protest interfered with her presentation. Prof Sullivan's concerns also prompted her to contact the university regulator, the Office for Students. The University of Bristol, however, rejected her allegations, maintaining that the talk proceeded safely despite "unacceptable disruption," consistent with their commitment to upholding free speech.
Universities are legally obliged to protect the rights of staff, students, and guest speakers to express potentially controversial views, a responsibility underscored by a recent freedom of speech law in higher education effective in England since August. The University of Bristol insists that all its actions favor free speech. Prof Sullivan had conducted a review published in March, advocating for the separation of data on biological sex and gender identity. Invited initially in July 2024 by a Bristol academic, she accepted an in-person event scheduled for autumn.
In a letter to the university indicating potential legal action, Prof Sullivan detailed an initial suggestion to hold the event online, which she declined, underestimating potential protest scale. Recognizing the opposing views on gender identity, she emphasizes everyone's right to peaceful protest, provided it does not silence others. "This isn't just about my rights as a visiting speaker, this is about the rights of the university community to hold discussions and to have people come and listen," she stated.
Initially scheduled for Autumn and postponed to 22 October 2025, the event witnessed some attendees capturing the protest on their phones as Prof Sullivan arrived. Verified videos show protesters making rude gestures and holding signs, contributing to what Prof Sullivan described as a "zombie apocalypse" atmosphere, with demonstrators pressing placards and loudhailers against the venue windows.