Disability charity Scope has published a public apology after it cancelled a London Marathon performance by a not for profit and all abilities choir over the gender-critical views of its founder.

The Singing Striders choir performs at charity running events and had been due to join Scope’s ‘cheer squad’ for the third year running at the London Marathon in April.

But in response to the views of its founder Janet Murray this was cancelled by the charity.

In its apology, the charity says this decision “was wrong” and it acknowledges “that our decision was against our commitment to the Equality Act”.

It adds: “We recognise that Janet Murray is entitled to hold and express her lawful gender-critical beliefs. The fact Ms Murray holds these views should not have influenced our decision-making.

"We should have engaged more constructively with Janet and sought clarification rather than cancelling the Choirs’ performance.

“We appreciate the Singing Striders are a diverse group that do not endorse specific beliefs. Scope was mistaken in characterising the whole Choir as all sharing a particular viewpoint. Individuals in the Choir are entitled to hold their own beliefs and it is possible for people with different views to work together.”

Scope also says it accepts that the cancellation “has caused distress to Ms Murray and to other members of the Choir” and that some members are now “anxious about future performances”.

“And whilst we offered to reinstate the Choir at the Marathon, Scope apologises to the Singing Striders and its members,” says Scope’s apology.

“We will treat this as an opportunity to learn. We will make sure that in future concerns are investigated fairly and managed proportionately.”

Legal action

Murray, whose views are that biological sex cannot be changed, said that the apology follows legal action she brought along with three other singers over Scope's decision.

The apology must remain on the charity’s website for seven days, following this legal action.

“This is great news for free speech and good news for women,” said Murray.

“I hope it emboldens women who have felt afraid to speak openly about biological sex and the rights of women and girls.

“No apology can undo how upsetting this has been for both me and other members of the choir. But I am grateful to Scope for publicly acknowledging that it was wrong to cancel our performance because I expressed my lawful views.

“I hope this makes other individuals and organisations think twice before ‘cancelling’ people with gender-critical beliefs.”

Murray says that she initially tried to resolve the matter with Scope’s leaders.

“I was so confident this was a misunderstanding and that a direct conversation would clear things up that I didn’t initially tell the other choir members. I didn’t want to worry them. Having to tell them we were no longer welcome to sing - and explain why - was deeply upsetting for me.”

After lawyers intervened, instructed by the Free Speech Union, Scope re-extended its invitation on the night before the marathon, said Murray, but only one other choir member felt comfortable to sing as part of Scope’s ‘cheer squad’.

At the event Murray and a small group of singers did eventually perform elsewhere on the course.

Murray added: “We were just a group of volunteers giving our time to support a disability charity and cheer on runners.

"We were about fun, friendship and making music — and you don’t have to agree on everything to enjoy those things together.

"I hope we can return to making music together, although I worry some members may feel too nervous to come back.”

George McLellan, partner at law firm Sharpe Pritchard, who acted for Murray and other choir members, said: “Scope’s public apology recognises that Janet is entitled to hold and express her lawful gender-critical beliefs, and that those views should not have influenced its decision.”

---