A woman will receive a payout after being kicked out of a rape crisis center for critical gender beliefs

A definition of female is crucial, as ERCC and RCS have enforced self-identification policies, meaning a man who claims to identify as female could access female-only spaces and services.

Ms Adams claimed deliberately “muddy” language and policies around the issue meant women seeking help were unable to make an “informed choice” about accessing services.

“I don’t know how any organization can claim to have only spaces or services for women without defining what a woman is or what a woman means,” Adams said.

“A survivor cannot give informed consent if they do not know what they are giving their informed consent to.

“Rape Crisis Scotland were fully aware that they (ERCC) were not following women-only spaces. Sandy Brindley, chief executive of Rape Crisis Scotland, will not define women either.

“It’s quite shocking to me, and it’s at the heart of where the issues are…survivor-centered and informed consent. It beggars belief.”

ERCC staff were previously asked to dismiss survivors’ concerns by telling them there were no men working at the centre, even though Ms Wadhwa was legally male.

The center initially refused to apologize to Ms Adams for her treatment, but has since done so privately.

Ms Adams, who is making a public apology, told the hearing there had been a lack of “responsibility and accountability” by ERCC following the verdict.

He said the center remained “celebratory” of its gender self-identification policy.

She claimed there had been a “grudging” acceptance that gender-critical beliefs were legally protected, but not that they were valid or based on a desire to protect vulnerable women.

He contrasted his treatment with that of Ms. Wadhwa, who was allowed to be fired and then resign, potentially with a reward, despite presiding over a major scandal.

He stated that this was a “great injustice”.

Service funded by JK Rowling

Adams also said ERCC and RCS were refusing to refer women to Beira’s Place, a women-only service in Edinburgh set up and funded by JK Rowling where she now works, for “ideological” reasons.

“They (ERCC) are using language like ‘a woman who has always lived as a woman can know people,'” she said. “That’s not the language of an organization that espouses a sexual realist point of view.

“When I first worked there I started saying that we need to be clear about the language, so that survivors can make an informed decision. But they still muddy it up in a way that doesn’t respect realistic views of sex “.

Ian McFatridge, the employment judge, said a written decision, on issues such as costs and any recommendations the tribunal makes, would be issued in three to four weeks.

A spokesperson for Rape Crisis Scotland said: “Rape Crisis Centers are dedicated to providing high quality trauma-informed support and advocacy services that meet the needs of survivors of sexual violence.

“Survivors’ needs must be heard and respected when they arrive at a rape crisis center. It is important that survivors can make informed decisions about the services they access at rape crisis centers.

“Currently, how women-only spaces are defined is decided by the individual rape crisis centers.

“We are committed to ensuring that all survivors of sexual violence can receive support in a way that meets their specific needs,” the spokesperson added.