When the Witch They're Hunting is You!
"It would be almost laughable… if it weren’t so utterly terrifying" Genspect Ireland's Director, Sara Morrison on being cancelled.
The Witch Hunt Begins
I stood in front of the Big Fish at a "Let Women Speak" event in Belfast on 16 April 2023 and gave a speech about how women who defend their rights are harassed, intimidated, and punished for speaking up. I talked about the carefully orchestrated campaigns of abuse, the smear tactics, and the coordinated efforts to shut women up and make them terrified to speak at all. I warned that women who dare to speak the truth about biological reality would be hunted down, targeted, and forced to pay a devastating price. And then, right on cue, the modern-day witch hunt began… against me.
My name is Sara Morrison. Until recently, I worked as an Inclusion/Audience Development Coordinator in Northern Ireland for Belfast Film Festival. I was good at my job. I specialised in creating cross-community events that brought together people from all backgrounds in our post-conflict society—work that traditionally takes precedence over any other considerations in Northern Ireland’s delicate post-conflict Good Friday Agreement peace process.
This experience shaped my approach to inclusivity: I ran events for LGBT organisations, working with a cross-section of people from all communities without barriers, ensuring inclusivity and open dialogue for everyone involved. This has always been a priority in my career. My ability to bridge divides and facilitate respectful conversation across historical sectarian boundaries was praised by colleagues and participants alike. I collaborated effectively with colleagues, always mindful of Northern Ireland’s complex social landscape, where building trust between communities remains paramount.
Then, I spoke at a women’s rights event—not representing Belfast Film Festival in any way, shape, or form—as a citizen wishing to exercise my democratic right to free speech, and everything changed.
They don’t burn you at the stake anymore.
No, now we’ve upgraded to social media mobs, HR investigations, and good old-fashioned professional exile. First, they declare you guilty. No trial. No evidence. Just a vague accusation that you’re on the wrong side of the ideological divide. Then they send in the mob. They’ll twist your words, make stuff up, and demand your scalp. Social media lights up with calls for you to be punished, fired, and blacklisted. And finally, the institutions cave. They fold under the pressure, eager to protect their precious reputation. And just like that, another woman is erased.
Guess what? That was me.
Let me be crystal clear: I was hounded out of my job for holding the belief that biological sex is real, immutable, and important—for believing that women’s rights matter, for daring to speak these truths aloud. After my speech, I was immediately labelled a heretic, guilty of thoughtcrime for the “sin” of believing sex matters. The usual suspects—activists, online bullies, and even professional contacts—began the ritualistic outrage routine:
“She spoke at a hate rally!” (It was a peaceful women’s rights event.)
“She was spouting anti-trans rhetoric!” (I was literally talking about how women are harassed for their views.)
“She’s dangerous!” (Dangerous? To whom? And how?)
It didn’t matter that none of it was true. The accusation was all they needed.
Silenced by the Mob
Picture this: You wake up and find your name all over social media—not because of something you did wrong, but simply because you hold the “wrong” opinions. No one came to me for a conversation. No one asked, “What did you actually say at the event?” The decision had already been made: I was guilty. I called in sick with stress and anxiety, and immediately, my access to emails was revoked. I was removed from the festival programme. I was put on statutory sick pay, despite previously receiving full pay during an illness in 2021. I was asked to return my office keys. What was I being punished for? For believing that sex is real? For having the audacity to say so publicly?
The irony is staggering. In my speech at the “Let Women Speak” event, I warned about orchestrated campaigns of harassment designed to shame and silence women with gender-critical views. Within days, I became the target of exactly this type of campaign. After my attendance at the event became known, I was subjected to relentless online abuse and harassment. People who had never met me labelled me “dangerous.” Organisations I had previously worked with successfully suddenly refused to be associated with me. The Police Service Northern Ireland have been great and very helpful through this process, treating the threats against me with great seriousness.
I filed a grievance, hoping for a fair hearing. The process dragged on for nearly a year, consuming my mental and emotional resources. Even when it was acknowledged, “There is no evidence that SM’s speech included language which could reasonably be considered anti-trans rights,” the investigation was still deemed justified. By November 2024, I was done.
I’d been removed from company events.
I’d been locked out of my work accounts
I’d been isolated, left to deal with it alone.
I’d been treated as a problem to be erased, not as a human being with rights.
It was obvious: I wasn’t welcome.
So, I walked away—not because I wanted to, but because I had no choice. This is what they call “constructive dismissal”—making your working conditions so intolerable that you have no option but to resign.
The Cost of Speaking Out
The financial impact has been severe. I lost income when placed on statutory sick pay and have been on Universal Credit since August 2023. I eventually lost my job entirely. My career trajectory was derailed. My professional reputation was damaged by baseless accusations and innuendo. Organisations I had built relationships with now viewed me with suspicion or refused to work with me altogether. Years of career building were undermined in a matter of months.
Throughout this ordeal, I received invaluable support from the Free Speech Union and Freedom in the Arts. These organisations have been instrumental in defending my right to express my legally protected beliefs without fear of professional destruction. Free Speech Union has consistently advocated for individuals facing ideological persecution, providing legal and moral support to those under attack for expressing dissenting views.
Freedom in the Arts has also played a crucial role, standing up for artists and creatives who have faced similar persecution. Women I consider supportive and courageous friends—such as Rosie Kay, Denise Fahmy, Sibyl Ruth, and Claudia Clare—have been outspoken about the dangers of ideological conformity within the arts. Rosie Kay, a celebrated choreographer, was forced out of her own company for defending sex-based rights. Denise Fahmy, a former Arts Council employee, faced professional backlash for questioning funding decisions that marginalised gender-critical voices. Sibyl Ruth, a poet and editor, lost work opportunities after expressing gender-critical views. Claudia Clare, a ceramicist, has also been targeted for her outspoken defence of women’s rights. Their stories echo my own—a warning of what happens when free expression is sacrificed in the name of ideological purity.
A board member of Belfast Film Festival wrote about me, saying, “‘I’m standing up for the rights of women’ is the argument used by conservatives and religious people in several countries, and a new staple of the anti-LGBTQ, anti-Islamic right.” WHAT??
A New Beginning with Genspect Ireland
After I resigned on 24 November 2024, a remarkable opportunity emerged. Stella O’Malley, Director of Genspect, offered me a position with her organisation. This has been nothing short of transformative. Working at Genspect has been a revelation—a workplace where I can breathe freely, express my views without fear, and apply my skills in a supportive environment. My values align completely with Genspect’s mission to advocate for a rational, evidence-based approach to gender issues, supporting both young people and families with compassion and critical thinking.
Despite everything I’ve been through, I will not be silenced. I will not be erased. And I will not back down. This is more than just my personal struggle; it is a test case. If I am successful, it will send a powerful message to legislators, institutions, and employers about the importance of upholding legal protections for freedom of belief and expression. It will demonstrate that individuals cannot be punished or professionally erased for holding lawful, sex-realist views. A victory would not only restore my rights but would also serve as a warning against the creeping authoritarianism that seeks to silence dissent. The outcome of my case has the potential to set a precedent—one that ensures no one else must endure what I have faced simply for speaking the truth.
Fighting Back Together
I have been incredibly fortunate to receive the support of those who have fought similar battles before me. Maya Forstater’s landmark case set the legal precedent affirming that sex-realist beliefs are protected under the law, and her advocacy has been a source of strength. Alongside my legal team, barrister Anya Palmer has provided invaluable legal insight, helping me to navigate the complexities of my case and ensuring that my rights are defended. And J.K. Rowling, one of the most high-profile defenders of women’s rights, has used her platform to shine a light on the injustice faced by women like me. Their voices, along with countless others, remind me that I am not alone in this fight.
Never underestimate a woman who knows her rights and is ready to fight for them. This isn’t just my battle—it’s a battle for the right of all women to speak freely about issues that affect us. No one says it better than J.K. Rowling: “I shall file your lost admiration carefully in the box where I keep my missing fucks.”
I am just getting started.
Sara Morrison is the director of Genspect Ireland
Neotoddlerism is being used very effectively by the far left to silence any discussion. Women’s rights have been trampled on greatly, and it is sad that you were victimized simply for speaking the truth. But landing a spot on the team with Stella is certainly a wonderful development.
We met at LWS Belfast, I helped organise it and stewarded. What an indictment of ‘the arts’ that no dissent will be tolerated. How sad that your career was wrecked like this, glad you have a new and vital role.