Lesbian lawyer faced a ‘complete lack of sympathy and support’ from her chambers over fears Stonewall trans activists would assault her, tribunal hears
- Allison Bailey faced ‘lack of sympathy’ from her chambers over security fears
- In witness statement, she detailed incidents involving Stonewall trans activists
- Lesbian lawyer claims that Stonewall convinced her employer to investigate her
- She is suing Stonewall and Garden Court Chambers alleging discrimination
A lesbian lawyer faced a ‘complete lack of sympathy and support’ from her chambers amid fears Stonewall trans activists would assault her, a tribunal has heard.
Barrister Allison Bailey, 52, launched a discrimination action against the law firm Garden Court Chambers (GCC) and Stonewall.
She founded the LGB Alliance group in 2019, which opposes many Stonewall policies.
The LGB Alliance has previously said there is a conflict between the rights of LGB people and transgender people.
Ms Bailey said she received a ‘distinct lack of support’ from her chambers regarding security concerns she had in relation to trans activists.
In her witness statement, she detailed incidents involving trans activists, including one where she was present and thought she was ‘about to be assaulted as several activists got really close and surrounded me’.
Barrister Allison Bailey, 52, faced a ‘complete lack of sympathy and support’ from her chambers amid fears Stonewall trans activists would assault her, a tribunal has heard
In her statement, Ms Bailey said that she wrote to the heads of chambers – including Judy Khan QC (pictured) – in December 2018 about security concerns
Allison Bailey has accused LGBTQ charity Stonewall of operating ‘like a criminal protection racket’ by persuading firms to follow its transgender policies. Pictured: Harry Potter author JK Rowling with Ms Bailey during a lunch with other prominent feminists in London in April
She said in the statement: ‘I was worried that some of these activists might come to know of my opposition to Stonewall and that this might put my safety at risk.
‘It was a non-specific fear, but I felt genuinely about it.’
In her statement, Ms Bailey said that she wrote to the heads of chambers in December 2018 about security concerns.
She said Judy Khan replied to her seeking clarification – which Ms Bailey says she provided.
This was then met with no response, Ms Bailey said, and she had to ‘chase it up’.
Ms Bailey said ‘thereafter there was a lack of sympathy for my position from all the heads of chambers’.
Ms Bailey claims that Stonewall convinced her employer Garden Court Chambers to investigate her support of gender-critical beliefs and is suing them both for discrimination
During the employment tribunal on Wednesday, barrister Andrew Hochhauser QC, representing GCC, said Ms Bailey had ignored that she had been written to about having discussions around how to support her and ensure her safety.
He said: ‘You ignore them, and then you point a finger of blame saying they did nothing to support me.
‘Now how can you in good conscience say that?’
Ms Bailey replied: ‘Because Mr Hochhauser, you haven’t taken me or the tribunal, to what Judy Khan was saying about me around this issue.
‘And those emails are illuminative of the fact that I was quite correct in concluding that she had a complete lack of sympathy for my position.’
Ms Bailey was pressed to confirm that she was written to and asked if she wished to engage in discussions to protect her safety.
Earlier this month on April 11, JK Rowling hosted some of Britain’s most prominent feminists and women’s activists – including Allison Bailey – to support the ‘Respect My Sex’ campaign
She said she had ‘some very, very tense phone calls and email communications’, adding: ‘When I look at the totality of what happened during that period…I have reached the conclusion, and I’ve reached it honestly, that there was a distinct lack of support and indeed sympathy from the heads of chambers for my position and my situation.’
Ms Bailey claims she lost work and income due to GCC’s involvement with Stonewall’s Diversity Champions scheme, which she has said was ‘exclusive’ and ‘discriminatory’ of her beliefs.
The criminal defence barrister previously told the tribunal she felt she was ‘offered inferior brief after inferior brief’ and she felt she was being blocked from doing more substantial cases in 2019.
Clerks for GCC have said they did not withhold instructions to Ms Bailey or try to reduce the quality of the work she was offered, the tribunal has heard.
They say they worked hard together to get her work and keep her in court and there was no attempt to make her face a reduced income in 2019.
The tribunal continues.
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