Sarah Morrison, a Gender Critical activist, has offered refunds to donors of her legal crowdfunder after admitting that the campaign misrepresented key details about her case. Morrison is suing the Belfast Film Festival (BFF), alleging constructive dismissal after resigning from her position as Inclusion/Audience Development Co-ordinator. She claims her resignation was prompted by the organisation’s failure to uphold her grievances, which stemmed from backlash over her participation in the 2023 anti-trans Let Women Speak rally in Belfast.
Morrison’s crowdfunding page claims she was suspended from her role for “holding gender-critical beliefs.” The introductory text still reads, “I am a single mother and have been suspended from my workplace for holding gender-critical beliefs.” This claim, repeated throughout the page, remained uncorrected for six months, during which over £30,000 was raised toward a £40,000 target even though, as noted on the page, Morrison’s solicitor initially advised that only £15,000 was necessary to cover costs. Notably, JK Rowling contributed to the fund.
Morrison was not suspended—she resigned. Her solicitor, Simon Chambers of Russell & Co., issued a correction acknowledging the ‘inaccuracy’, stating, “That is not quite accurate. Sara faced calls for her suspension and removal from involvement in future activities by her employer.”
The correction does not explain how Morrison and her legal team conflated public criticism with actual suspension. This error has drawn criticism for its perceived dishonesty, raising further questions about Morrison’s credibility.
The rally, which featured controversial speaker Posie Parker, has sparked multiple legal disputes, primarily from Gender Critical activists alleging discrimination. Notably, Graham Linehan, an attendee at the event, is also represented by Chambers in his case against Wine Inns Ltd after being removed from a Belfast bar, along with others, following complaints.
On the same day as the rally, Twitter permanently banned Linehan for allegedly “joking” about killing protesters.
Chambers serves on the Free Speech Union Northern Ireland Advisory Council, an organisation known for their advocacy for controversial figures, with the FSU recently hosting it’s first event in Belfast. One of the speakers was conversion therapy advocate, Stella O’Malley