Bristol Council apologises and lifts ban on gender critical campaigners

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 31 Oct, 14:33 · Archive

Bristol City Council has apologised and lifted a six-month ban on two gender critical campaigners after an out-of-court settlement.

Bristol City Council has apologised to Phoebe Beedell and Wendy Stephenson and lifted a six-month ban on attending council meetings that it had imposed on them. The council has withdrawn allegations against the women, agreeing to settle their legal challenge out of court and pay some legal costs. The council also admitted in its public statement that there should have been an investigation before the ban was imposed.

Beedell, a retired academic, and Stephenson, who was chair of the council's independent remuneration panel, were part of the 'Women of Wessex' group attending full council meetings to raise questions about the council's policies in relation to trans rights. At one meeting, Green Party councillors walked out while the women were speaking; at another, councillors held up placards. The council then banned the women from meetings after claiming they had confronted two councillors in the reception area in a way that was intimidating. Stephenson was also stripped of her position on the remuneration panel.

The women launched a legal challenge to the ban. The out-of-court settlement also sees Bristol City Council change its policy to recognise that people holding gender-critical beliefs are protected from discrimination.

How it is being reported

• 'Apologetic' Bristol council lifts ban on campaigners after legal threatThe women's questions prompted councillors to walk out or hold up placardsBristolLive · 31 Oct, 14:00
• Apology after two women's rights campaigners bannedBristol City Council agrees to pay legal costs after two gender critical campaigners were banned.BBC Bristol · 30 Oct, 12:58

In this story: Bristol City Council · Phoebe Beedell · Wendy Stephenson · Women of Wessex · Bristol

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