Almost all of the public controversies that surround academic freedom and freedom of speech that have purportedly been driving the case for the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill have concerned or engaged matters of equality or identity.
One side tends to favour their right to debate those issues in pursuit of freedom to speak and academic freedom – which are of course foundational precepts of university life. Others argue that the debate itself is harmful.
Indeed, often both sides consider themselves to be marginalised and oppressed – such as, for example, the case for some women making claims about the fidelity and importance of sex-based rights, and some transgender people making claims about the nature and importance of gender identity.
