Press Regulator Rebukes Spectator Over Transgender Discrimination Ruling

IPSO's decision against The Spectator for misgendering author Juno Dawson ignites debate over free speech and press ethics.

The Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) ruled that The Spectator breached its Editors' Code by referring to trans author Juno Dawson as 'a man who claims to be a woman.'
IPSO determined the language used in Gareth Roberts' article was discriminatory, personally belittling, and unjustified under the columnist's right to free expression.
The Spectator, led by new editor Michael Gove, criticized the ruling as an attack on free speech, arguing the article expressed a protected philosophical belief about biological sex.
Juno Dawson, who holds a Gender Recognition Certificate, filed the complaint citing discrimination but did not succeed in claims of inaccuracy or harassment.
The ruling has sparked concerns among free speech advocates about potential chilling effects on discussions of gender identity in media.