Oxford college threatens to expel students who misgender or 'deadname' trans peers

2 June 2023, 16:13 | Updated: 2 June 2023, 16:18

People protest in Oxford where Professor Kathleen Stock, who quit her job as a lecturer at the University of Sussex after being targeted by activists over her views on gender identity, spoke at the 200-year-old debating society, the Oxford Union
People protest in Oxford where Professor Kathleen Stock, who quit her job as a lecturer at the University of Sussex after being targeted by activists over her views on gender identity, spoke at the 200-year-old debating society, the Oxford Union. Picture: Alamy
EJ Ward

By EJ Ward

Regent’s Park College unveils new harassment policy with tough measures for anyone caught ‘consistently using incorrect pronouns’

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

The College, a prestigious institution within the University of Oxford, has ignited a controversy with its newly unveiled transgender harassment policy.

Under the college's progressive "trans inclusion statement," students now face the risk of expulsion for consistently misgendering or deadnaming their transgender peers.

Counter protester at Oxford University supporting Kathleen Stock

The policy explicitly declares that any "unlawful discriminatory behaviour, including "transphobic harassment" or bullying, will be regarded extremely seriously and could be grounds for disciplinary action."

The statement sets out a range of examples of transphobic harassment, including the persistent use of incorrect titles, pronouns, or names that cause distress to transgender individuals, commonly known as "deadnaming."

Moreover, the college strictly prohibits intrusive or personal questioning, making derogatory jokes about trans people or their identities, and challenging the validity of someone's gender identity.

The statement lists examples of harassment, including “consistently using incorrect titles, pronouns or names to refer to a trans person (‘deadnaming’) especially where this causes distress”.

The college’s students are also banned from “unduly intrusive or personal questioning”, “making jokes about trans people or their trans status” and “denying or disputing the validity and/or existence of a trans person’s identity”.

Iain Dale and former President of NUS quarrel over cancelling of Kathleen Stock's talk at Oxford Uni

Serious consequences await those who breach this policy. Students found to have violated the guidelines may face expulsion or dismissal from the college, as highlighted in the statement.

The college said it believes “gender reassignment” is not an “exclusively medical” term and also has “personal” dimensions.

Protesters storm Kathleen Stock talk at Oxford Union

This news arrives on the heels of a contentious debate at the Oxford Union, sparked by the appearance of Professor Kathleen Stock, known for her gender-critical views.

Earlier this week, British Philosopher Kathleen Stock told Nick Ferrari at Breakfast about her frustration with transgender people being protected under the "same umbrella" as the biological sex.

She told Nick: "The outcome should be that genuinely single-sex spaces, where women get undressed or sleep or otherwise vulnerable to sexual predators should be female only."

The conversation happened ahead of Prof Stock, who quit her job as a professor at the University of Sussex in October 2021 after being "hounded" for her gender-critical views, was to speak at the prestigious Oxford Union debating club later in May.

The planned talk has sparked fears of protests, with the university's LGBT society calling Prof Stock a "transphobic and trans-exclusionary speaker".

The society said it was "dismayed and appalled" by the invitation to Prof Stock, and called for the union to rescind its invitation.

Stock told Nick: "As a society we've become too concerned about upsetting words and not enough about upsetting facts...

"There are women in rape crisis centers who have been sexually assaulted by men who are now equally traumatised by the presence of males in their spaces, for instance, there are very vulnerable females in prison in close quarters with male rapists due to these ridiculous policies."

She later said: "I would like there to be a range of different spaces available and I think that's what Stonewall should have always put their energy into is thinking about creative solutions so that trans women can feel safe and trans m

The debate grew heated when student activist Riz Possnett glued their hand to the floor, resulting in disruption and subsequent police involvement.

Although the protester was ultimately "de-arrested," the incident has fuelled ongoing discussions about transgender rights and academic freedom.

Notably, renowned gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell withdrew from a debate at the Oxford Union in response to their decision to host Prof. Stock.

Regent's Park College, is led by Prof. Sir Malcolm Evans, an esteemed legal scholar with experience on the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse panel.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Johnson, Chapeltown and Gatewood were each sentenced to seven years and two months in custody.

WATCH: Chilling moment gangsters armed with machetes and a gun chase teen through street in broad daylight

Tommy Fury was reportedly fined after being caught speeding

Tommy Fury 'fined after being caught speeding in £180k Mercedes following split from Molly-Mae Hague'

Exclusive
Speaking in the Commons on Tuesday, Sir Keir Starmer announced the increase to combat "tyrant" Vladimir Putin’s growing military ambitions.

'Hard power must be prioritised over soft power': Defence Secretary backs cutting foreign aid to boost military spending

Alison Erb and Loreto di Salvatore

British woman shot dead in France alongside partner, as police officer husband accused of murder

Exclusive
Ex-Navy engineer backs BHF campaign to fix cardiac crisis

‘Desperate’ Navy veteran felt like a ‘ticking time bomb’ before using pension to pay for heart surgery

The government has promised to hike defence spending

Starmer prepares to meet Trump after hiking military spending as Reeves says Europe 'must do more on defence'

Exclusive
Simon and Howie Orson.
Simon farms 700 acres of arable land in The Vale of Belvoir, Leicestershire.

Farmers refusing to serve as 'fourth emergency service' in rural areas after inheritance tax changes

A British climber died on the slopes

British climber killed in avalanche while scaling frozen waterfall in Norway

The Gaza documentary has already been pulled from iPlayer

BBC accused of 'whitewashing' Gaza documentary as references to 'Jews' and 'jihad' removed

Laura Winham's "mummified and almost skeletal" remains were found by her brother in her flat in Woking, Surrey, on May 24 2021.

Family of woman whose mummified body wasn’t discovered for four years blast social services for failing to support her

The scene in Godstone after a sinkhole appeared in the small village on Monday night. Picture date: Saturday February 22, 2025.

Massive sinkhole that destroyed Surrey street ‘could take year to fix’ as residents displaced

Ukraine to ‘sign deal with US’ as Trump paves way for Zelenskyy to visit Washington.

Ukraine to ‘sign deal' with US as Trump paves way for Zelenskyy to visit Washington

Rory McIlroy and Erica Stoll

Rory McIlroy breaks silence over divorce u-turn with wife Erica Stoll

Around 100 protesters gathered at Broadcasting House, the BBC’s headquarters, on Tuesday to protest against their controversial recent Gaza documentary.

'People need to lose their jobs,' says Campaign Against Antisemitism in protest outside BBC HQ over Gaza documentary

A woman has admitted committing fraud to complete UK citizenship tests on behalf of 13 applicants.

Woman who used 'array of wigs' to take UK citizenship tests admits fraud

A planetary alignment, or a planetary parade. Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.

Seven planets set to align over UK skies in ‘planetary parade’ this week - here’s how to spot the rare spectacle