Student launches crowdfunder to pay for appeal against university

Student who lost court fight against university that investigated her for saying ‘women have vaginas’ in trans seminar launches crowdfunder to pay for appeal

  • Lisa Keogh, 30, took Abertay University to court after she was investigated 
  • Her case was dismissed by Dundee Sheriff Court and she is looking to appeal 
  • Her peers said she made ‘discriminatory, sexist, racist and transphobic’ remarks

A woman who lost a court bid against her university over equality claims has launched an appeal against the ruling.

Lisa Keogh, 30, instructed lawyers to take Abertay University to court after she was investigated for saying ‘women have vaginas’ during an online seminar on transgender issues.

The mother-of-two was investigated by the Dundee university during the summer after classmates complained that she made ‘hateful, discriminatory, sexist, racist and transphobic’ remarks during an online seminar on gender politics. 

The law student also said ‘not all men are rapists’ and ‘men on average are physically stronger than women’ during the discussion.

Mother-of-two Lisa Keogh, 30, has now launched a crowdfunder to appeal against the court’s dismissal. She was investigated by Abertay University in Dundee after saying ‘women have vaginas’ during a class on transgender issues

Her team went to Dundee Sheriff Court to argue the investigation breached her human rights and the Equality Act 2010.

Her legal action followed a two-month probe by the university into the mother-of-two while she sat her final exams for a law degree.

The university had received a complaint Keogh made comments which were variously ‘hateful, discriminatory, sexist, racist and transphobic’.

However, it concluded there was no evidence she had done anything wrong after investigating.

Keogh launched the legal action claiming Abertay discriminated against her on the basis she had ‘gender critical’ views about feminism.

But Sheriff Gregor Murray last week dismissed the bid and upheld submissions made by lawyers acting for Abertay.

Keogh has now launched an appeal against the ruling and launched a crowdfunding drive to raise £12,000.

She said: ‘The sheriff has dismissed my case saying that there was no detriment to me.

Keogh has now launched an appeal against the ruling and launched a crowdfunding drive to raise £12,000

Abertay University (general view pictured) defended itself at Dundee Sheriff Court and Ms Keogh had her case dismissed

‘This is something that I would argue isn’t true. At the most crucial part of my university career I was subject to a two-month investigation for saying three things.

‘We need to raise enough money to appeal this so I would urge you to share this page as much as possible and donate if you are in a position to do so.

‘My free speech was suppressed and my hope is that this never happens to anyone again, especially in a debate in a university setting.

‘We are now moving forward with an appeal and I hope that you will all continue to support me.

‘Thank you for all of the support you have shown so far. Without your kind words, support and donations we wouldn’t have got this far.’

Her previous fundraising drive saw more than £26,000 raised.

Supporters of gender critical views believe people cannot change sex.

Keogh claimed Abertay had only launched disciplinary proceedings because of her views and this breached human rights laws.

In his written judgment, Sheriff Murray said: ‘The defender was entitled to take steps to investigate complaints.

‘It could not be guilty of discrimination simply because it did so. Following investigation in this case, the complaint against the pursuer was not upheld.’

Abertay University said: ‘We note the court’s decision in this matter.’

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