"The University of Sussex has begun its High Court legal challenge against a record £585,000 fine handed out by the Office for Students (OfS) over a trans-inclusive policy it said restricted the freedom of speech. The university, located in East Sussex, had a Trans and Non-Binary Equality Policy Statement which required staff and students to "positively represent trans people", with transphobia "not [being] tolerated" at the institution."
"In March 2025 the OfS, a non-departmental public body of the Department for Education which regulates higher education in England, ruled the university's trans inclusive policy could lead to a "chilling effect" and self-censorship of opposing gender-critical perspectives. The OfS set out in its decision that gender-critical professor Kathleen Stock, who is regularly given a public platform for her views, became "more cautious" about expressing her beliefs due to the policy."
The University of Sussex is challenging a record £585,000 fine imposed by the Office for Students for a trans-inclusive policy judged to restrict freedom of speech. The policy required staff and students to positively represent trans people and stated that transphobia would not be tolerated. The OfS ruled the policy could produce a chilling effect and said gender-critical professor Kathleen Stock became more cautious about expressing her beliefs. Students staged protests against Stock, who left in 2021. The university pledged to contest the fine, and the vice-chancellor called the investigation deeply flawed and dangerous for harassment policies.
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