Scope apologises for cancelling choir over gender-critical views

A disability charity has admitted that it was wrong to cancel a choir over the organiser’s belief in biological reality.

‘The Singing Striders’ — set up by journalist and women’s rights campaigner Janet Murray — had previously performed as a “cheer squad” for Scope at the London Marathon. But this year, just two days before the event, it was told that it had been dropped as Murray’s views conflicted with Scope’s “commitment to diversity and inclusion”.

Now, Scope has acknowledged that Murray “is entitled to hold and express her lawful gender-critical beliefs” and “these views should not have influenced our decision-making”.

Lawful views

The charity, which accepted the distress its actions had caused, stated: “Scope would like to apologise to the choir for cancelling their performance. We acknowledge the decision to cancel this performance was wrong. We acknowledge that our decision was against our commitment to the Equality Act.”

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, Murray called the apology “great news for free speech and good news for women. I hope it emboldens women who have felt afraid to speak openly about biological sex and the rights of women and girls.

“No apology can undo how upsetting this has been for both me and other members of the choir. But I am grateful to Scope for publicly acknowledging that it was wrong to cancel our performance because I expressed my lawful views.

“I hope this makes other individuals and organisations think twice before ‘cancelling’ people with gender-critical beliefs.”

‘I did nothing wrong’

Although the choir was cancelled, some members decided to make separate arrangements to perform at the race.

Murray reflected: “My dad said to me: ‘You must sing. You must not be intimidated into staying away.’ He even offered to pay my train fare. We had an absolute blast — despite everything. I felt I had to hold my head high. I knew I’d done nothing wrong.”

Lord Young of Acton, General Secretary of the Free Speech Union, commented: “I’m glad we were able to help Janet secure an apology. Organisations need to get better at balancing competing rights, not just prioritising the rights of those who shout the loudest.”