Has Cambridge abandoned debate?

My views on gender identity are well known. I believe that biology, rather than a person’s feelings, determines whether they count as a man or woman. My arguments support what many instinctively believe to be true. However, in academic circles, the idea that biology informs gender is far more contentious. So contentious that respected academics have denounced me as ‘offensive, insulting and hateful’.

I am due to speak at an event next week. The philosophy professor Arif Ahmed invited me to talk about my work on gender identity. The discussion is due to be held at Gonville and Caius College in Cambridge, although it is not an official event put on by the college authorities. This has clearly upset senior members of the college. The idea of a writer discussing her work is, it seems, too dreadful a possibility for these academics. The master of the college, along with a senior tutor, have written the following email to graduates and undergraduates:

Subject: A message regarding Criticising gender-identity ideology: what happens when speech is silenced, 25 OctoberWe are responding to concerns raised with us by members of Caius about the 25 October event here featuring Helen Joyce.