Maya Forstater, who lost her job after claiming people can’t change their biological sex, has won two claims in a new labor court after an appeal.
Ms Forstater’s contract with the Center for Global Development (CGD) was not renewed in March 2019 after she said the biological sex could not be changed.
In a verdict handed down Wednesday, labor judge Andrew Glennie said the “complaints of direct discrimination based on faith are well founded” over the decision not to offer Ms Forstater a contract or review a fellowship following her tweets.
Judge Glennie added that her complaint that she had been victimized after being removed from a company website was “well-founded”.
However, he also said that Ms Forstater’s complaints of direct discrimination based on religion, victimization for withdrawing an offer to hire her as a counselor, and harassment and indirect discrimination based on sex and belief were dismissed.
Ms Forstater said her case is “important to anyone who believes in the importance of truth and freedom of expression”.
She said in a statement: “We are all free to believe what we want. What we cannot do is force others to believe the same, silence those who disagree with us, or force others to deny reality.
“People can’t change gender. It’s not hateful to say that; in fact, it’s important to treat everyone fairly and safely. It wouldn’t take courage to say this and no one should lose their job to do so .
“I am pleased that the tribunal has allowed me to record what happened to me at the Center for Global Development. The tribunal determined that I was a victim of discrimination for stating that biological sex is real and important is, a view shared by the vast majority of people in this country. I hope employers will take note of the verdict.”