Tribunal rules woman's remarks were not transphobic

Michelle Devlin said she held her head in her hands when she first saw the video footage of Sarah Morrison's speech at the "Let Women Speak" event in 2023.

She said she was "appalled" by the footage and that her main concern was the "potential damage to the BFF's reputation" as well as "damage to partnerships."

Ms. Morrison, who was the BFF's Inclusivity and Audience Development Coordinator at the time, believes people cannot change their biological gender.

'Head in my hands'
She commented on keeping men away from women's spaces at the rally and criticized several local women's organizations.

Her participation led to a complaint from the LGBTQ community to the BFF, which subsequently launched an investigation.

Ms. Morrison left work, citing stress, and eventually resigned.

In her case, which has received funding from author J.K. Rowling, she claimed that the organization unlawfully discriminated against her because of her gender and gender-related views.

The BFF also rejected this and her claim for constructive dismissal.

The tribunal heard that Ms. Morrison's case was that the investigation initiated by the BFF was triggered by allegations of transphobia by the LGBTQ community.

During cross-examination, a barrister representing Ms. Morrison asked the BFF director if she considered the speech transphobic—to which Ms. Devlin replied: "It appears there are no transphobic statements in it."

She said she was shocked that Ms Morrison was critical of a number of organisations that the BFF worked with in the speech.

"I sat on my desk and I put my head in my hands," she said.

"A number of our client organisations were mentioned - people we had worked with, continued to work with, and would work with in the future."

'Vibrant personality'
In addition, the tribunal also heard that Ms. Devlin had referred to Ms. Morrison – the former US Republican politician – as "Sarah Palin" in a conversation with a colleague.

She stated that the name was used as a joke during a stressful time and was based on the "vibrant" personalities of both individuals.

Ms. Morrison's barrister told Ms. Devlin that the comparison to Sarah Palin was made because of the politician's perceived "right-wing" views, and that women who shared Ms. Morrison's views were "very widely vilified as being part of the right, the far right."

Ms. Devlin denied this, saying that not all women who shared Ms. Morrison's views were viewed this way.

She said: "I was making a private joke with a friend at a time of stress."

He said comparing Ms Morrison to Sarah Palin was based on her "passionate'' and "fiery" personality.

"The joke is that Sarah Palin is a loud, vivacious character," Ms Devlin said.

"Sara Morrison is also a loud, vivacious character."

Sarah Palin campaigned as the vice-presidential candidate for Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain in the 2008 US presidential election.

Ms. Devlin said they had previously shared a joke comparing Ms. Palin to Ms. Morrison, while Morrison herself was in her best friend's office.

The tribunal continues.