JK Rowling-backed women’s rights group ends legal challenge over axed event
JK Rowling offered to help with funds for Women’s Rights Network NI’s legal challenge (Women’s Rights Network | Getty Images)
A legal challenge brought by Women’s Rights Network Northern Ireland (WRN NI), a group supported by JK Rowling, against Belfast‘s Féile an Phobail community arts festival has come to an end after the organisation withdrew its case and reached an agreement with organisers.
The dispute began after Féile an Phobail cancelled an event scheduled to be held in the City on Tuesday (4 August) that had been advertised as a discussion on “women’s rights, law and legislative clarity,” covering topics including “sex-based rights, single-sex spaces and fairness in women’s sport”.
While the festival programme did not list any speakers, promotional material featured the logos of several organisations that have been known to campaign against the inclusion of transgender people in various women’s spaces, including Sex Matters, The Countess, Athena Forum and Gaels for Fair Play.
The festival said in a 21 July statement posted on their Facebook last week that it “was unaware from the initial submission that this event would promote campaigns against rights for the Transgender community,” adding: “On that basis, Féile an Phobail has informed the organiser of this event that we are withdrawing their event.”
After Féile announced the removal of the event, WRN NI released a public statement to their X account on 21 July detailing their dissatisfaction with being removed from the event. Underneath that statement JK Rowling replied, saying the J.K. Rowling Women’s Fund “will help with legal costs”.
As reported by The Journal, WRN NI denied accusations that it is “transphobic” and subsequently launched legal proceedings in Belfast’s High Court, seeking an injunction that would have required the festival to allow the event to proceed at its original venue.
However, the organisation has now withdrawn its legal action following what it described as “an agreement with Féile an Phobail.” According to a 29 July statement from WRN NI, the event will still go ahead next week, but at an alternative venue instead of as part of the festival.
“Féile’s decision to withdraw this event from our programme stands,” organisers said in a 29 July statement on their social media, adding that the outcome vindicated their decision “to stand up for those who are marginalised”.
WRN NI released another public statement today (30 July) on their X account, asserting that there was no judgement made in the case and revealing: “Under the agreement, neither party will pursue the other for legal costs, and Féile has agreed to meet with WRN NI regarding potential participation in future events.”
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