Arts council staff warned CEO ‘people already think we’re mad’ amid gender row

Bosses at Arts Council England were warned it risked being seen as “mad or irrelevant” for shunning “down to earth common sense” that people cannot change sex.

Darren Henley, the chief executive of the public arts organisation, received a letter from one of his staff criticising the decision to scrap funding for a gay and lesbian charity because it does not represent transsexuals.

The letter, seen by The Telegraph, was submitted as evidence in the employment tribunal of a grants officer who says she was hounded out of the Arts Council after expressing gender critical views, the belief biological sex cannot be changed.

It was sent after an online petition was shared by staff, which condemned giving LGB Alliance £9,000 and comparing that charity to the Ku Klux Klan.

Denise Fahmy, 54, is seeking compensation for victimisation and harassment after the grants officer of 15 years spoke in favour of LGB Alliance receiving funding. The Arts Council denies she was harassed or victimised.

One of her colleagues wrote to Mr Henley saying that he or she was “wary of wading into” the furore, but was worried the council was not open to the “default position of more or less the entire population” that people cannot change sex.

The letter, whose author’s name has been redacted, explains how the council should be “open to views and attitudes of those who work and pay the taxes that fund us in the communities we’re engaging with.”

It continues: “As an organisation we could perhaps even learn from the down to earth common sense of people who have no problem saying what a woman or a man is.

“Too many people in (for example) Barnsley already think we’re mad or irrelevant or both - and if people see we only fund art that comes with a particular set of values then the whole strategy will fail.”

‘Illiberal cultural movement’

It asks whether the council would match funding from JK Rowling, the Harry Potter author, for a creative writing project, or Martina Navratilova, for a sports programme, simply because they had questioned whether people can change sex.

Ms Navratilova, the world famous tennis player, had argued that trans women would have an unfair advantage if allowed to play against tennis players born as women.

JK Rowling has spoken of the “illiberal cultural movement” which campaigns for transgender people, as well supported Maya Forstater who won her employment tribunal claim that she was unfairly dismissed because she tweeted that transgender men and women could not change their sex.

The email adds how the author would be “nervous of expressing” gender critical views for fear of being “vilified by some staff”, insisting that to say people can’t change sex is not a transphobic view.

It says “an “interesting phenomenon in liberal society” is emerging in which Voltaire’s famous quote “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it” has now been replaced with “I agree with what you say, but I’ll fight to the death to prevent you saying it.”

The letter concludes: “I know there is very, very strong feeling about this (particularly from female colleagues who see rights they - and their mothers and grandmothers - fought hard for eroded) and many people feel unable to speak out for fear of the abuse they’ll get.”

It is not known how Mr Henley replied.

A judgment on Ms Fahmy’s employment tribunal case, heard last month in Leeds, is due soon.

An Arts Council England spokesperson said: “We are not able to comment on ongoing legal cases however we strive to create a respectful and caring work environment for each of our colleagues.”