Elspeth Duemmer Wrigley, a lawyer associated with the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), is facing legal action for her gender-critical views expressed in the workplace. She chairs a civil service network, SEEN, which advocates for gender-critical perspectives among staff. A claimant from a Defra-affiliated body alleges that the network’s existence and Ms. Duemmer Wrigley’s statements, such as “only women menstruate,” contribute to a workplace environment that is intimidating and offensive.
Ms. Duemmer Wrigley is also being sued for various communications shared at work, including a seminar comment on ‘Women and Autism,’ a post about protected characteristics under the Equality Act, and links to external content related to gender identity discussions. She defends her actions as protected under the European Convention on Human Rights, specifically citing freedom of belief and expression.
The case has sparked a broader debate on the expression of gender-critical views within the Civil Service. Ms. Duemmer Wrigley has initiated a crowdfunding campaign to cover her legal expenses and is preparing for a Preliminary Hearing. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for the expression of gender-critical beliefs in government-affiliated workplaces.
