Student who sued professional body for psychotherapists after he was thrown off his course for expressing gender critical views reaches settlement in discrimination case

The belief that there are only two sexes is protected in law, the professional body for psychotherapists has conceded after it was sued by a student thrown off his course for expressing ‘gender critical’ views.

The UK Council for Psychotherapy also said it was a ‘valid’ professional opinion that children questioning their gender should receive counselling rather than being put on a pathway to medical treatment.

And it added that it is unlawful for any therapist to be discriminated against for holding such beliefs.

It issued the statement after reaching a settlement with James Esses, a trainee therapist who was removed from his master’s degree in psychotherapy and lost his membership of the council after expressing his concerns about transgender treatment for young people.

James Esses, a trainee therapist who was removed from his master’s degree in psychotherapy and lost his membership of the council after expressing his concerns about transgender treatment for young people

READ MORE: Ex-barrister wins right to sue after he was kicked off his degree course ‘for raising his fears about “potentially irreversible” medical treatment given to children questioning their gender’

In 2021, he had set up a petition on the Parliament website calling on the Government not to ban therapy for children questioning their gender.

Mr Esses was then told by the Metanoia Institute in west London, where he was in the third year of a five-year course, that two members of the public had complained about his social media activity.

He was asked to have an informal discussion but it never happened as the next day he received a second message telling him he was being summarily expelled from the college for bringing it into disrepute.

Mr Esses had told the council of his concern about the ‘lack of balance in the discussion and debate around treatment of gender dysphoria, particularly for children’ and also had his trainee membership of the professional body terminated.

He launched an employment tribunal case against both organisations, arguing that he was discriminated against for beliefs that are protected under the Equality Act.

Now 31, Mr Esses has reached a settlement – the details of which are confidential – with the council.

Mr Esses speaking on his views in a series of tweets from July 2021 – he said he is ‘increasingly contacted by parents’

It said in a statement published on Monday: ‘UKCP recognises that gender-critical beliefs (that sex is both binary and immutable) are protected under the Equality Act 2010.

‘UKCP also recognises the validity of the professional belief that children suffering from gender dysphoria should be treated with explorative therapy, rather than being affirmed towards irreversible and potentially damaging medical intervention.

‘Psychotherapists and counsellors accredited by UKCP are fully entitled to hold such beliefs and any discrimination against them on this basis, including by UKCP-accredited training organisations, is unlawful.’ However, Mr Esses’s case against Metanoia is still ongoing and due to be heard in full next year.

He said after the case was resolved: ‘Well over two years since I was expelled from my master’s degree after speaking out about the impact of gender ideology on child safeguarding, I am extremely pleased to have agreed a settlement with the UK Council for Psychotherapy.

‘The statement they have now published clearly recognises the validity of a professional belief in favour of biological reality and against irreversible medicalisation of children.

‘They have made it clear that their accredited training institutions must never discriminate against students on this basis. I am now looking forward to seeking full justice against the Metanoia Institute at trial.’

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