UK universities have been infiltrated by woke EDI culture that is stifling research into controversial issues like puberty blockers, major report warns
The review, commissioned by the last Government, said academics are being 'bullied, harassed and blocked from career progression' if they dare to question transgender ideology.
It says Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) staff are 'over-reaching' and sometimes even 'generate harassment' against academics.
And it warns many EDI departments have been captured by trans activists, and calls for their power to be scaled back.
Last night, Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott hit out at universities for 'suppressing research' and 'silencing controversial views'.
The 433-page document, the most extensive research of its kind, also records dozens of personal accounts of academics being shut down.
In one example, a paper was rejected by numerous journals because reviewers 'objected to the findings' that puberty blockers may not be safe.
Its writer, Professor Sallie Baxendale, a consultant clinical neuropsychologist, was told her research 'risked stigmatising an already stigmatised group'.
Another academic told how they had been 'ostracised' by a colleague for 'providing balance' during a seminar discussion of puberty blockers.
Today's report accuses universities of presiding over 'systemic and institutionalised suppression' of academic freedom, with 'far-reaching chilling effects'.
Titled 'Barriers to research on sex and gender', it is led by Alice Sullivan, Professor of Sociology at the UCL Social Research Institute.
She said: 'Researchers investigating vital issues have been subjected to sustained campaigns of intimidation simply for acknowledging the biological and social importance of sex.
'When fundamental issues cannot be investigated or debated openly, this undermines our academic institutions, it hurts individuals and it compromises the integrity of research.'
The paper is the second instalment of a review originally commissioned by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology under the Tories.
The first instalment, published in March, found that biological sex had been erased from official data in the police, NHS and even the military.
Among the many testimonies is that of Professor Kathleen Stock, who was hounded out of her job at Sussex University in 2021 for her gender critical views.
There is also James Caspian, whose research on 'detransitioning' was blocked by Bath Spa University in 2017, over fears it would damage the university's reputation.
The report highlights concerns that EDI departments are being used as 'levers for activists pursuing agendas which are not compatible with the truth-seeking mission of universities'.
It says EDI policies have a 'tendency' to 'promote highly contentious theories such as gender-identity theory as unchallengeable fact'.
Universities are also tolerating 'toxic' behaviour by 'a small minority of university staff' who 'de-platform' gender-critical academics, it says.
And it adds: 'The targets of these campaigns have disproportionately been lesbians.'
'For some academics, the line between activism and research has been completely blurred, so that 'research' ceases to be a truth-seeking activity,' it says.
There are also concerns about 'ethics committees', which 'use their positions to impose particular viewpoints or to block research that they dislike.'
'Ethics committees commonly direct researchers to draw on advice from university EDI teams,' the report added.
It comes after the Office for Students published new guidance earlier this month stating academics should not have to show 'commitment' to EDI.
The guidance was to help universities comply with the new Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act, first drafted by the Tories, which comes into force from August 1.
Despite this, there are currently official proposals to have universities' access to public funds determined partly by their compliance with EDI.
Mrs Trott said: 'Labour opposed our Free Speech Act every step of the way, dismissing it as a Tory 'hate speech charter', and quietly tried to shelve before being forced to u-turn.
'Professor Sullivan's report shows why the Act is vital: universities have sadly suppressed research on sex and gender identity, silencing controversial views.
'The report exposes severe intimidation and legal battles over basic rights.
'As Conservatives, we will defend free speech on campus.
'I urge universities to follow the Office for Students' guidance and salute the brave academics standing for truth and free speech.'
A Government spokesman said: 'We are taking strong action to protect academic freedom and free speech, which are fundamental to our world-leading universities.
'This includes introducing new duties on universities to ensure they are robust in promoting and protecting free speech on campus.
'It also comes alongside the firm steps the Office for Students is already taking, through fines and new guidance, to ensure universities remain beacons of academic freedom.'
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