A leading academic who chaired a major government review on sex and gender is threatening the University of Bristol with legal action, claiming it breached its duty to protect her freedom of speech after her lecture was violently disrupted by protesters.
A Lecture Forced into Chaos
Sociology professor Alice Sullivan, a visiting fellow from University College London, was invited to speak at the University of Bristol in October 2025. The event, which discussed her government-commissioned review's findings, was thrown into disarray when protesters set off fire alarms, banged on windows, and made abusive gestures. This forced the talk to be hastily relocated to a different room on a higher floor to continue.
Professor Sullivan's review, published in March, had recommended that official data should record biological sex and gender identity as separate categories. It also concluded that universities had stifled research on puberty blockers and not done enough to stop the harassment of academics with gender-critical views.
Allegations of Institutional Failure
In a formal letter before action, Professor Sullivan's lawyers argue that the university had 15 months to organise a secure venue but failed to take reasonable steps to prevent the disruption. They claim the institution was influenced by complaints of transphobia from LGBTQ+ staff in the lead-up to the event.
The academic says that after accepting the initial invitation in July 2024, she was told the lecture was subject to a risk assessment and later that it could only proceed online due to 'capacity concerns'. After she challenged this, the university agreed to an in-person event but then imposed restrictive conditions, including limiting attendee numbers and banning undergraduate students, which she says was an attempt to 'marginalise' her talk.
Invoking a New Era of Free Speech Law
This case is believed to be the first intended legal action to invoke the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023. This law places a stronger legal duty on universities to protect the rights of staff, students, and visitors to express lawful views, even if others find them offensive. Institutions found in breach can face substantial fines.
The precedent was set in March when the University of Sussex was ordered to pay £585,000 for failing to protect Professor Kathleen Stock, who resigned in 2021 following protests over her gender-critical views.
'It is a central part of the function of universities to provide a space where critical analysis, dialogue and the pursuit of knowledge can occur without fear,' Professor Sullivan stated. 'If the university cannot safely host a talk about data, statistics and research on sex and gender, something has gone badly wrong.'
University's Response and Ongoing Fallout
A spokesperson for the University of Bristol refuted the claims, stating: 'Although protesters caused unacceptable disruption, appropriate measures were in place to enable the event to continue. We refute claims that we failed to protect her freedom of speech; the restrictions she outlines were all necessary for public safety.'
The spokesperson condemned the 'intimidating behaviour' of the protesters and confirmed the university would take disciplinary action if any of its members were identified as being involved.
