The Chickens Come Home To Roost

An Employment Tribunal's Damning Judgment Criticized The Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre, Uncovering That Its Chief Executive Led A Campaign To Target A Female Employee As A "Heretic."

Perhaps Mr. Wadhwa Needs To “Reframe His Trauma”

An employment judge has condemned a support service for rape victims, finding that its chief executive led a "heresy hunt" against a female worker with "gender-critical" beliefs.

Roz Adams won her constructive dismissal claim against the Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre, which is funded by the Scottish government. The tribunal concluded that she had been harassed and discriminated against.

Roz Adams, Shero

Supporters of Adams condemned the “abusive management” she endured.

Upon joining the rape crisis center, Adams, 52, initially welcomed its trans-inclusive policies, believing that everyone who had “suffered sexual assault is entitled to support,” the tribunal heard.

However, in December 2020, she went for a walk with Maggie Chapman, a Green MSP and the center’s chief operating officer at the time. The judgment states: “This was the first time [Adams] heard the “mantra that ‘trans women are women’”. She was concerned by the lack of definition or clarification and found it odd.

“Once she started working, it became clear that there were issues with how gender matters were handled in the organization… She described the atmosphere around the issue as ‘walking on eggshells’.”

The judgment describes the center's investigation into Adams's opinions as "a classic example, somewhat reminiscent of Franz Kafka's work."

Employment judge Ian McFatridge identified Mridul Wadhwa, a trans woman and the ERCC chief executive, as a key figure in an internal investigation that "should not have been launched in the first place."

McFatridge stated that the review “was clearly motivated by a strong belief among senior management and some of the claimant’s colleagues that the claimant’s views were inherently hateful.”

He added: “[Wadhwa] was involved in the process since she[sic] was the one who selected and contacted those who would handle the various stages of the disciplinary and grievance process.”

On Sunday night, Adams expressed relief over the judgment. “This is a victory for all people who have been subjected to sexual violence and need a choice of worker and group support based on sex to feel safe. For me, it validates and makes worthwhile three years of struggle.”

In a 2020 interview, Mridul Wadhwa admitted that having the advantage of 'passing as a woman' (sex deception) had given him access to spaces and people he may not otherwise have had access to.

The tribunal, still pending a decision on a resolution, was informed that the conflict started when Adams discussed with colleagues the case of a rape survivor who inquired about the gender of her counselor, expressing discomfort with a male counselor.

Tensions escalated when a non-binary staff member included Wadhwa in an email thread. During testimony, it emerged that Wadhwa had suggested at a university event that the most effective method to ensure staff backed transgender inclusion policies was to terminate them.

Helen Joyce, from the advocacy organization Sex Matters, stated: "Boundaries based on sex are important for everyone, but particularly for women who have faced violence and sexual assault from males. By confronting oppressive leadership, Roz Adams has supported women throughout the UK."

Adams currently works at Beira’s Place, a center supported by author JK Rowling, providing a "sexual violence support service for women, run by women."

Sandy Brindley, CEO of Rape Crisis Scotland, stated: "We have commissioned an independent review into practices and procedures at Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre. Additionally, we are collaborating with Rape Crisis England and Wales on a planned review and update of national service standards."

Maya Forstater, who received £100,000 from an employment tribunal last year, welcomed the judgment, saying, "This is excellent news. The center had hired a man who identifies as a woman as CEO, which compromised the organization's entire mission."

Indeed. Edinburgh Rape Crises doesn’t exist to provide a service to women. It exists to provide women as a service to its CEO.