A landmark legal battle could force museums and galleries across Britain to tear up controversial gender identity guidance arguing it pushes “activist ideology” and silencing dissent.
Freedom in the Arts (FITA), a campaign group led by choreographer Rosie Kay and museum specialist Denise Fahmy, has taken the first step in a judicial review against the University of Leicester over its widely adopted Trans-Inclusive Culture Guidance.
FITA’s legal warning letter has also been sent to the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and the Director for Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom at the Office for Students.
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|A landmark legal battle could force museums and galleries across Britain to tear up controversial gender identity guidance arguing it pushes 'activist ideology' and silencing dissent (stock image)
The group claims the document, used by museums and galleries across the UK, misrepresents the law, discriminates against staff with gender-critical beliefs, and encourages illegal or unsafe policies.
Denise Fahmy, co-director of Freedom in the Arts, a not for profit company set up to protect freedom of expression in the cultural sector, said: "The arts world - both staff and audiences - have a variety of views and interests. We believe everyone should be catered for.
"But for those like me who don’t agree that a man can change sex or vice or versa, we are treated as heretics. We work with many artists who are scared to speak publicly or are being bullied by colleagues if they speak openly about their gender critical views.”
“The richness and the depth of the arts has been sacrificed on the altar of an oppressive ideology,” said Rosie Kay.
“This isn’t about blocking inclusion. It’s about ensuring true inclusion across all protected characteristics. We want our cultural spaces to be open, pluralistic, and lawful - not captured by ideology.”
The 44-page document, published by the University’s Research Centre for Museums and Galleries in 2023, promotes a series of recommendations that FITA argues are legally and ethically flawed.
Examples include:
Co-founder Denise Fahmy said: “Over 44 pages the guidance pressures museums to adopt policies that put them at legal risk and promotes prioritising stretched museums budgets towards exhibitions promoting gender ideology.
"We’re standing up for artists, curators, staff and audiences across the UK who are too afraid to speak.”
FITA offered to help the University revise the guidance following the 2025 Supreme Court ruling, which reaffirmed that “sex” under the Equality Act means biological sex. The University rejected this offer on July 29, 2025.
The legal action coincides with the release of FITA’s new report Afraid to Speak Freely, based on a survey of 481 arts professionals.
It found:
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The group claims the document, used by museums and galleries across the UK, misrepresents the law, discriminates against staff with gender-critical beliefs, and encourages illegal or unsafe policies (stock image)
“There is widespread, deeply held perception that it is political closure and ideological orthodoxy that governs the arts,” the report states.
“Questioning it, adding nuance, or rejecting it risks grave career and personal consequences.”
Anonymous testimonies from the report include:The University of Leicester is the UK’s leading centre for museum studies, and its guidance has been embraced by the Museums Association (representing over 11,000 members and 1,800 museums), the International Council of Museums UK, and other powerful organisations.FITA is demanding the University:
“We founded Freedom in the Arts to ensure that our museums, galleries and cultural spaces are welcoming to everyone,” said Kay.
“Not just those who pass an ideological test. We’re calling for guidance that is lawful, inclusive, and respectful of all protected characteristics.”
A University of Leicester spokesperson said: “The University is considering the content of the letter and it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.”