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Press Watchdog Rules That the Phrase “A Man Who Claims to Be a Woman” is Discriminatory

by Will Jones
11 December 2024 1:16 PM

The press watchdog has been branded “outrageous” and accused of having a “chilling effect” on free speech after it ruled that the phrase “a man who claims to be a woman” is discriminatory. The Telegraph has more (note some sex-specific terms in the below have been corrected).

An article in the Spectator magazine about Nicola Sturgeon was investigated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (Ipso) after it described a trans author as “a man who claims to be a woman”.

Author Juno Dawson complained the description amounted to discrimination. Ipso has now issued a rare ruling that it breached the Editor’s Code of Practice and forced the Spectator to publish the ruling on its website.

Michael Gove, the new editor of the Spectator who was not at the magazine at the time of publication, described the ruling as “outrageous”.

“I am in no doubt this is an outrageous decision, offensive to the principle of free speech and chilling in its effect on free expression,” he said.

Free speech campaigners such as MP Rosie Duffield and Maya Forstater have also defended the article and criticised attempts to prevent authors expressing gender-critical views.

Mr. Dawson complained over the reference within an online comment piece published in May by Gareth Roberts, titled: ‘The sad truth about “saint” Nicola Sturgeon.’ Ipso said the comment article breached clause 12 of the Code, which deals with discrimination.

The article focused largely on the former Scottish First Minister’s stance on transgender rights and at one point described Ms. Sturgeon as having been interviewed “by writer Juno Dawson, a man who claims to be a woman”.

Mr. Dawson, who writes young adult novels, was legally declared a woman by the gender recognition panel in 2018. The author complained the description in the article was both inaccurate and discriminatory, and the Spectator had deliberately misgendered him with the intention to cause offence, which Ipso upheld.

Writing in the Spectator, Mr. Gove set out a strident defence of Mr. Roberts’s article, arguing the journalist was exercising his right to free speech.

He said: “When Gareth Roberts wrote that Juno Dawson is a man who claims to be a woman, he was exercising his right to free speech and indeed expressing a view that many would consider a straightforward truth.

“Dawson may have a gender recognition certificate but no piece of paper, whatever it may say, can alter biological reality. Parliament may pass laws, but they cannot abolish Dawson’s Y chromosome.” …

Ipso required the Spectator to publish the finding online to remedy the breach of the code.

The Spectator had argued it had not breached the Code because the reference to Mr. Dawson’s gender was “was relevant, as it put the remarks made by Ms. Sturgeon into context”. It “did not consider this to be either prejudicial or pejorative”.

But the Ipso finding, published on Tuesday, stated that the language used was “personally belittling and demeaning toward the complainant, in a way that was both pejorative and prejudicial of the complainant due to her [sic] gender identity, and was not justified by the columnist’s right to express his views on the broader issues of a person’s sex and gender identity given that this targeted her [sic] as an individual”. …

Toby Young, the Director of the Free Speech Union, told the Telegraph that it was not the press regulator’s role to “enforce gender identity ideology”.

He said: “Ipso is supposed to make sure newspaper and magazine articles are fair and accurate. It shouldn’t be in the business of trying to enforce gender identity ideology.

“Punishing the Spectator for publishing something factually accurate about a trans woman risks turning it into a laughing stock.” …

Ipso did not uphold Mr. Dawson’s complaints of inaccuracy or harassment.

Worth reading in full.

In a separate leading article, the Telegraph, which is regulated by Ipso, called the ruling a “regrettable overstep“.

The issue of gender identity is highly contested, and Roberts should have been entitled to express his view. By deciding to rule in favour of Dawson on this matter, Ipso risks a chilling effect on the ability of gender critical voices to express their views and make the strongest arguments available to them, including the argument that a legal change of gender does not alter biological reality. 

Tags: Free SpeechIpsoMichael GoveThe mediaThe SpectatorTransgenderismWoke Gobbledegook

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35 Comments
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Insurrectionist
Insurrectionist
5 months ago

Don’t even give it credence by publishing such utter nonsense Daily Sceptic …come on editor sort it out

2
-8
kev
kev
5 months ago
Reply to  Insurrectionist

Nothing to discuss here, IPSO whatever the Feck it is, has just rendered itself irrelevant, ridiculous and not fit for purpose – get rid!

12
0
godknowsimgood
godknowsimgood
5 months ago
Reply to  Insurrectionist

It’s an important issue. If you want to remain ignorant about it, then don’t read it, and allow the rest of us the choice of whether to remain ignorant about it or not.

8
-1
Insurrectionist
Insurrectionist
5 months ago
Reply to  godknowsimgood

“important”….go on…

What’s “important”is that we are being lead in to WW3 intentionally…

Last edited 5 months ago by Insurrectionist
2
-9
thechap
thechap
5 months ago
Reply to  Insurrectionist

What’s also “important” is the relentless assault on free speech.

There’s no life rule saying one can only find one thing at a time important.

12
0
Insurrectionist
Insurrectionist
5 months ago
Reply to  thechap

This article is more about “gender identity” than free speech

If it wasn’t for “a man who claims to be a woman”.. This article wouldn’t even exist…

Last edited 5 months ago by Insurrectionist
0
-8
Insurrectionist
Insurrectionist
5 months ago
Reply to  thechap

No one was saying there was…………

Last edited 5 months ago by Insurrectionist
1
-1
Insurrectionist
Insurrectionist
5 months ago
Reply to  godknowsimgood

Ignorant about “gender identity” are you having a laugh..
It’s been rammed down our throats on a daily basis for the past 25 years…. Not sure about you, but I’m done with the bs… You keep giving it attention if you want, but that won’t achieve anything at all….

“ignorant”…..blimey..

1
-5
godknowsimgood
godknowsimgood
5 months ago
Reply to  Insurrectionist

Not ignorant about “gender identity”, ignorant about the IPSO ruling. Nobody is forcing you to know anything about IPSO if you don’t want to know.

1
0
DickieA
DickieA
5 months ago
Reply to  Insurrectionist

If the Spectator prints the ruling on its website stating that indeed Mr Dawson is a woman, will it be guilty of misinformation? After all, as Michael Grove says: “Dawson may have a gender recognition certificate but no piece of paper, whatever it may say, can alter biological reality. Parliament may pass laws, but they cannot abolish Dawson’s Y chromosome.”

It does get very confusing.

6
0
Covid-1984
Covid-1984
5 months ago
Reply to  Insurrectionist

I agree. It’s DS clickbait. The press doesn’t matter anymore. We get balance from within the Network Society

0
0
Jeff Chambers
Jeff Chambers
5 months ago

the Phrase “A Man Who Claims to Be a Woman” is Discriminatory

It’s an interesting idea that speaking or writing a phrase that corresponds to reality constitutes “discrimination”. But what do the Clown-Wolders really mean by “discrimination” in a case like this? What they mean is that some people still insist on noticing reality, and that that must not be allowed. Thus we’ve reached the stage where speaking the truth is heresy.

Last edited 5 months ago by Jeff Chambers
16
0
MadWolf303
MadWolf303
5 months ago
Reply to  Jeff Chambers

Indeed…..right think, is the only think.

6
0
stewart
stewart
5 months ago
Reply to  Jeff Chambers

Nothing new. Once upon a time you could have lost your life for stating that you don’t see any evidence of the existence of a God.

We just haven’t evolved as much as we think we have.

6
0
godknowsimgood
godknowsimgood
5 months ago

If journalists are not allowed to say that Juno Dawson is “a man who claims to be a woman”, then they should say that Juno Dawson is “a man who claims to be a trans woman”, which cannot be proved to be inaccurate, as it is literally impossible to distinguish a trans woman from a man pretending to be a trans woman.

6
-1
Insurrectionist
Insurrectionist
5 months ago
Reply to  godknowsimgood

How about they just ignore it …

0
-3
godknowsimgood
godknowsimgood
5 months ago
Reply to  Insurrectionist

Not everyone has your “Close your eyes and it might go away” attitude.

2
0
JXB
JXB
5 months ago
Reply to  godknowsimgood

“Trans woman” is gibberish.

What would a trans goldfish or trans tulip be?

1
0
godknowsimgood
godknowsimgood
5 months ago
Reply to  JXB

Nevertheless it’s a reality that some men claim to be trans women.

1
0
DiscoveredJoys
DiscoveredJoys
5 months ago

War Is Peace.
Freedom Is Slavery.
Ignorance Is Strength.
Truth is Thoughtcrime.

10
0
MadWolf303
MadWolf303
5 months ago

What will such types do, when it becomes completely obvious, that all those self same types lied about the Covid Vaccinations.

8
0
JXB
JXB
5 months ago

If saying “a man who claims to be a woman” is discriminatory, what should one say to describe a man who claims to be a woman?

13
0
harrydaly
harrydaly
5 months ago
Reply to  JXB

Exceĺlent question but easily answered: it’s “a man-without-a-certificate-from-the-state that claims he’s a woman.”

Last edited 5 months ago by harrydaly
0
0
Lockdown Sceptic
Lockdown Sceptic
5 months ago

Telling the Truth Now a Crime

9
0
Mogwai
Mogwai
5 months ago

Both parents onboard with ‘transing’ their 18 month old son who now thinks he’s a girl called ‘Violet’. WTAF?😵😡 Child abuse takes many forms and this is just one. Take that child off these terrible parents!😕

https://x.com/Artemisfornow/status/1866104931867877385

9
0
stewart
stewart
5 months ago

I wonder how many Britons are suddenly realising they live in a totalitarian state in which something called a “Press Watchdog” has the power and authority to dictate what can and cannot be said.

10
0
mrbu
mrbu
5 months ago

So…. If I put on black makeup and claim to be black, would a journalist be found guilty of discrimination if they described me as a “white person who claims to be black”?

9
0
soundofreason
soundofreason
5 months ago
Reply to  mrbu

Ali G…

2
0
Jabby Mcstiff
Jabby Mcstiff
5 months ago

It doesnt matter how rarified and abstracted a culture becomes. In the end the body is still the final arbiter. You will learn that in the horror to come. Imposture won’t help pretence won’t help. You will either have the spunk or you won’t. Keep your nutsack full as a bulwark against the coming attack. No cheeky little wanks. If you feel the strain is too much then grip the base of your penis and give two squeezes. After a few weeks the desire will disappear completely.

0
0
Pete Sutton
Pete Sutton
5 months ago

Has anyone read any of Juno Dawson’s works? Would the phrase “a man who claims to be an author” be ok?

2
0
Jabby Mcstiff
Jabby Mcstiff
5 months ago

It isn’t rocket science. Why do you think that all the nasty major corporations of this world are pushing this agenda? Do you think it is because they care about minority groups? And so why are they actually pushing it. It is just to make you feel itchy and irked in certain places whilst they carry your possessions off. Either you tune into the real game or you don’t. We live in merciless times you can’t afford to be all over the place and stupid.

0
0
Jabby Mcstiff
Jabby Mcstiff
5 months ago

It is very easy to become a fuckwit, especially in our time. How about the spirit that rebals against becoming a fuckwit. I mean a genuine impulse to avoid that fate.

0
0
Moonisaharshmistress
Moonisaharshmistress
5 months ago

Membership of IPSO is not compulsory. Spectator should leave and like Guardian, Evening Standard, Financial Times be free of it.

2
0
myk
myk
5 months ago

The phrase ‘ you are factually correct but not politically correct’ originally came from Stalin’s Russia

2
0
RTSC
RTSC
5 months ago

Shame Gove didn’t push to get the “gender” lies and nonsense scrapped when he was in a position to do it.

0
0

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