The Scout Association has apologised to a campaigner after investigating her for two years for ‘misgendering’ someone on Twitter.
Assistant cub scout leader Maya Forstater inadvertently called a bearded transgender scout leader ‘he’ rather than ‘they’ in 2019.
This led to an investigation, in which Miss Forstater was found to have brought disrepute on the organization.
Miss Forstater, who runs the group Sex Matters and who has been praised by JK Rowling, said the complaint by Gregor Murray was ‘vexatious’
Now the Scouts have issued an apology, saying she ‘did not deliberately misgender the complainant in order to cause harm’ and that she ‘did not spread lies about them’.
Miss Forstater, who runs the group Sex Matters and who has been praised by JK Rowling, said the complaint by Gregor Murray was ‘vexatious’.
It came after she raised concerns about the Scouts’ transgender policy.
She added: ‘The whole process has been bullying from start to finish. They didn’t interview me. They didn’t listen to my evidence. They made things up I hadn’t done.’
A spokesman for the Scouts said: ‘It is inappropriate for us to comment further on a case that has been closed.’
Assistant cub scout leader Maya Forstater inadvertently called a bearded transgender scout leader ‘he’ rather than ‘they’ in 2019
The investigation dates back to 2019, when Miss Forstater raised concerns on Facebook about the Scouts’ transgender policy, which she said would mean an end to separate spaces, such as sleeping facilities, for girls.
She got into a Twitter conversation with Mr Murray, a scout leader from Dundee, to whom she referred using the pronoun ‘he’ instead of Murray’s preferred ‘they’.
Murray complained about the Scout Association. Miss Forstater responded that the ‘misgendering’ was not intentional, and that the complaint was vexatious and intended to bully her and deter leaders in the Scouts from discussing issues relating to the organisation’s transgender policy.
Miss Forstater was also undergoing an employment tribunal hearing after her contract expired. She claimed that no one could change their biological sexual orientation.
The original judge used the issue of the Scouts misgendering as part of his judgment that her views were ‘not worthy of respect in a democratic society’.
This judgment was what led JK Rowling to tweet in support Miss Forstater two year ago. This decision was reversed on appeal in the summer.
The Scout Association finally issued an apology on Friday, saying: ‘The evidence that you provided in response to the complaint, to demonstrate that it was vexatious was not considered at the appropriate time by the Scout Association.
‘If it had been, the complaint may well have been found to have been vexatious.
‘In any case it is clear you did not deliberately misgender the complainant in order to cause harm and did not spread lies and misinformation about them, as alleged in their complaint about you.
‘The Scout Association therefore apologises for the experience you have encountered through this process which has gone on for over two years.’
Miss Forstater said: ‘I am glad this part is over. Although I enjoyed being a Scout leader, I decided to leave because the treatment I received from them made me feel ashamed of wearing the uniform.
‘They allowed Gregor Murray to use their complaints process to bully me for speaking up about safeguarding. The Scout Association is having a larger problem. They should face it.
‘It is hard to believe that the thing people are most concerned about is respecting pronouns when you are talking about whether male people can be allowed to invade the space where women are naked and vulnerable.
‘What about the intimidating, hostile and degrading environment this creates for women and girls?’
She added: ‘JK Rowling has been amazing. Her light shone on me two years back and continues to shine for many other women.
‘Despite all of the threats and harassment she hasn’t wavered. Her public support and bravery led more people to speak up.’
A spokesman for the Scouts said: ‘We are aware of this case. The matter was complicated and took some time but is now over. It is inappropriate for us to comment further on a case that has been closed.’