Edinburgh rape crisis worker unfairly sacked to receive £70,000

The tribunal in May ruled the decision to launch a disciplinary process against Ms Adams was because the centre’s management wanted to make an example of her because of her gender critical beliefs.

Ms Adams’ view was that people using the centre should have a choice over who they receive support from on the basis of sex, and that sex is binary and “everyone is either male or female at that level”.

Those beliefs clashed with the views of Mridul Wadhwa, the centre’s chief executive who has since resigned from the role.

Much of the tribunal centred on a disciplinary process that began after Ms Adams sought clarity on how to respond to an abuse survivor who wanted to know if a support worker who identified as non-binary was a man or a woman.

Some people who do not consider themselves to have a solely male or female gender identity describe themselves as non-binary.

Ms Wadhwa – a trans woman – stepped down from her job in September after a Rape Crisis Scotland report found she failed to behave professionally and that the needs of survivors were not prioritised.

Referrals to the centre are currently paused due to the Rape Crisis Scotland report.

Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre have been contacted for comment.