The boss of a Scottish rape centre was behind a 'heresy hunt' against a 'gender critical' employee and suggested the best way to ensure staff supported trans-inclusionary policies was to 'fire them', a tribunal has found.
Roz Adams, 52, who was a member of staff at Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre, was harassed and discriminated against according to a tribunal judge, who granted her victory in her claim for constructive dismissal.
Ms Adams told the tribunal that she had at first welcomed its trans-inclusionary policies, believing that all victims of sexual assault are 'entitled to support', but became concerned when advocating for a victim who only wanted to talk to a female member of staff.
According to the judgment, in December 2020 Ms Adams went for a walk with the centre's then-Chief Operating Officer, MSP Maggie Chapman, who voiced the 'mantra' that trans women are women.
Ms Adams reportedly found the lack of a 'definition or clarification' around the phrase 'odd', before beginning her employment and finding 'issues regarding the way that gender issues were dealt with'.
Roz Adams, 52, who was a member of staff at Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre, was harassed and discriminated against according to a tribunal judge
The centre's CEO, Mridul Wadhwa, is reported to havetold a university event that the 'best way' to encourage staff to support trans inclusion was to 'fire them'
Matters came to a head after Ms Adams spoke to another colleague about a rape victim who had said she would feel 'uncomfortable talking to a man' about her experiences.
Another member of staff is then said to have copied in the the centre's CEO,Mridul Wadhwa, and Ms Adams found herself at the centre of an internal investigation.
Ms Wadhwa, who is transgender, was directly identified by judge Ian McFatridge as being a key figure in the investigation, which he said 'should not have been launched in the first place.'
In the ruling, Judge McFatridge wrote: 'In the view of the tribunal, we are entitled to infer from all of the evidence that the reason the disciplinary investigation was commenced and the claimant interviewed was because the respondent wished to make an example of the claimant because of her gender critical beliefs.
'It appeared to be the view of the respondent's senior management that the claimant was guilty of a heresy in that she did not fully subscribe to the gender ideology which they did and which they wished to promote in the organisation. This was an act of harassment on the basis of her belief.'
It added: 'We would agree with the characterisation of the claimant's representative that this was a heresy hunt.'
The judge also said the investigation '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' and was 'unfortunately a classic of its kind, somewhat reminiscent of the work of Franz Kafka'.
The tribunal said that Ms Adams felt she had no alternative but to resign, which she did in spring 2023, and upheld her claim of unfair constructive dismissal.
Judge McFatridge said it was 'clear' Ms Wadhwa was involved in the investigation and was responsible for contacting the parties who dealt with the 'various stages of the disciplinary and grievance process'.
The tribunal also heard evidence that Wadwha had previously told a university event that the 'best way' to encourage staff to support trans inclusion was to 'fire them'.
Last night, Ms Adams said:'This is a victory for all people who have been subjected to sexual violence who need a choice of worker and group support on the basis of sex in order to feel safe.
'For me it validates and makes worthwhile three years of struggle.'
Ms Adams will now be in line for a payout, but the amount has not yet been agreed.
The ERCC's board of directors said they were 'saddened' by the outcome of the tribunal and will now take time to reflect on the written judgement.
They said: 'We strive to provide a safe accessible and inclusive service and are committed to improving continuously.
'We are fully supportive of Rape Crisis Scotland's commissioning of an independent review of ERCC practice.
'This will help ensure our practices and procedures meet the highest standards as set out in the Rape Crisis national service standards, and that survivors receive the exceptional quality of support they deserve.
'We want to reassure all survivors who are currently accessing our services and anyone seeking support that we are still here for you, and you matter to us. Our services remain unaffected by these events.'
Rape Crisis Scotland said that an independent review into the practices and procedures at the autonomous Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre has been commissioned.