Oxford professor forced to axe lectures after ‘intimidation’ from trans activists

An Oxford University law professor has been forced to axe lectures after facing intimidation from trans activists. Dr Michael Foran, an associate professor and tutorial fellow at Keble College, confirmed on Sunday that he would not proceed with his remaining talks after demonstrators interrupted two events in recent weeks.The 32-year-old gender law specialist had planned a four-part lecture series at the HB Allen Lecture Theatre examining themes from his new book, Sex, Gender Identity and the Law.Footage shared online showed protesters standing in front of the lectern and urging attendees to leave rather than listen to the lectures. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say During the first event on May 29, two individuals believed to be students approached the front of the hall moments before Dr Foran was due to begin speaking.One protester, reading from a mobile phone, claimed the academic masks his transphobia behind a thin veneer of academia before urging audience members to leave.Please join me in walking out and refusing to platform this bigot, he said.Audience members responded by calling for the protesters to leave, while Dr Foran said: I'd really appreciate if you don't disrupt this event.The same pair returned during the second lecture on June 5, although attendees largely drowned out their remarks with chants and shouting.Two further protesters then emerged from within the audience before being escorted from the venue.A PhD student who attended the event described the atmosphere as very intimidating, telling The Telegraph that the personal attacks were pretty unacceptable at this sort of academic event.Dr Foran, whose academic work was cited in last year's Supreme Court ruling that the Equality Act's definition of a woman is based on biological sex, said he was disappointed by the disruption.UNIVERSITY MADNESS - READ THE LATEST:Triggered students given the right to walk out of lectures unpunished if they feel 'offended'Oxford Union plunged into fresh scandal after president removed from office for 'election-rigging'Academics handed £250,000 to 'decolonise' maths, science and geography lessonsHe wrote on social media: This is deeply lamentable, but the disruption has undermined the academic nature of this series.Students shouldn't face bullying or harassment when attending academic events.He added that the protesters had chosen confrontation over genuine intellectual engagement grounded in academic charity and rigour, describing their actions as the antithesis of what a university stands for.Kate Barker, chief executive of LGB Alliance, said Oxford students had been deprived of Michael's expertise, especially at a time when clarity and expertise on the law is so sorely needed.She urged the protesters to apply a little critical thinking, and engage with people and arguments, even when they feel uncomfortable.Maya Forstater, chief executive of Sex Matters, described the situation as appalling and questioned what steps the university was taking to ensure the lectures could continue.The incident is the latest in a series of disputes over transgender issues at Oxford.In 2023, protesters attempted to disrupt a talk by gender-critical academic Kathleen Stock at the Oxford Union, with police removing demonstrators from the chamber.Last weekend, hundreds of people marched through the city in opposition to new Government guidance on single-sex spaces.Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter