The Cambridge Union is set to host controversial academic Dr Kathleen Stock on the 17th November for a debate on the motion, this house believes in the right to offend, Varsity can reveal.

Stock’s views on transgender rights have prompted criticism, including her argument that “many trans women are still males with male genitalia, many are sexually attracted to females, and they should not be in places where females undress or sleep in a completely unrestricted way.”

The event will take place during Transgender Awareness Week, the one-week celebration from 13 November to 19 November, leading up to the Transgender Day of Remembrance, which memorialises victims of transphobic violence.

Oli, the Students’ Union’s LGBT campaign president, told Varsity: “The LGBT+ Campaign condemns the decision of the Cambridge Union to invite Kathleen Stock to be a guest in one of its debates.”

They added that they were especially concerned about student safety in light of a recent talk with another gender critical feminist, Helen Joyce, hosted at Gonville & Caius College, saying: “Conditions at the university have become materially less safe for its queer student population since the invitation of Joyce has encouraged ‘debate’ around what should undebatable: people’s identities.

“Several trans students have reported incidences of harassment to us in the last week. Therefore, the invitation to invite Stock to speak at an already difficult and dangerous time to be trans in Cambridge is heart-breaking to this emotionally exhausted group. Even more hurtful is the fact the fact that this event has been arranged by fellow students.”

Stock opposes gender self-identification, but has denied opposing trans rights, saying that she thinks “discussing female rights is compatible with defending trans rights”.

Stock published a book that questioned the idea that gender identity is more “socially significant” than biological sex.

However, Stock denies that she opposes trans rights, saying that she will “gladly and vocally assert the rights of trans people to live their lives free from fear, violence, harassment or any discrimination.”

Stock, who was professor of philosophy at the University of Sussex until last year, faced criticism for arguing against proposed changes to the Gender Recognition Act in 2018. In 2019, Stock signed the “Declaration on Women’s Sex-Based Rights” from the Women’s Human Rights Campaign, which called for the “elimination” of the “practice of discrimination against women which comprises the inclusion of men who claim to have a female ‘gender identity’ in the category of women”.

In May 2021, Stock was appointed as trustee of the LGB Alliance, which has been described as a transphobic organisation.

In October 2021, students at the University of Sussex began a campaign for her to be fired over her “bastardised version of radical feminism that excludes and endangers trans people”.

Stock, who was told by the police to use bodyguards on campus, said that “arguments should be met by arguments and evidence by evidence, not intimidation or aggression”. She was supported by the new Minister for Women and Equalities Kemi Badenoch, former prime minister Liz Truss and the vice chancellor of the University of Sussex, who saw the protests as a threat against academic freedom.

The protests in Sussex received national coverage, and Stock resigned at the end of October 2021. After resigning, Stock said it was surreal to see her name “plastered over every wall” on protest posters and that her treatment by colleagues had become “exhausting”.

Controversy erupted in Cambridge this term when “gender critical” journalist Helen Joyce spoke at an event at Caius College. The event prompted outrage amongst students, as Joyce was branded “hateful” and “ignorant”. The event went ahead this week against a backdrop of protests.

On the decision to invite Stock, the Cambridge Union said it is “strongly committed to our founding principle of promoting Free Speech. The Union’s role is to create a safe space in which to discuss difficult topics and provide members with the opportunity to cross examine them. We hope our debate on the motion This House Believes in the Right to Offend in which Kathleen Stock will be one of the participants will do just that.”