Choir members sue charity after being 'banned from singing for founder's gender-critical views'

Choir members are pursuing legal action after being banned from performing at the 2026 London Marathon due to their founders' gender-critical views.

The Singing Striders had been invited to attend the 2026 marathon by Scope, a leading disability charity, to entertain runners from the sidelines of the races.

However, the charity withdrew the invitation just days before the marathon after receiving anonymous complaints regarding the founder, Janet Murray, who publicly expressed gender-critical views.

Ms Murray and three fellow choir members are now seeking potential damages and a formal apology.

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They allege that Scope's decision amounted to unlawful discrimination against their legally protected beliefs.

Ms Murray, a writer and journalist, has voiced concerns about biological males participating in women's sports and being admitted to organisations like Girlguiding.

Two anonymous complaints about her views prompted Scope to inform her that she would not be permitted to perform at the charity's designated cheer zone along the marathon route.

The charity claimed it was "concerned about your views because we don't agree with your views," adding that her comments conflicted with its "commitment to diversity and inclusion".

Ms Murray told The Telegraph: "I believe Scope unlawfully discriminated against me because of my lawfully held gender-critical beliefs."

She added: "It raises much wider questions about whether women who state basic biological realities, or advocate for female-only spaces and sport, are increasingly being treated as unacceptable by organisations that claim to value equality and inclusion."

The legal team representing Ms Murray and her fellow singers contends that Scope's actions constituted discrimination against her belief in the immutability of biological sex.

Such beliefs have enjoyed legal protection since 2021, when Maya Forstater successfully appealed an employment tribunal ruling after losing her job at a think tank over her gender-critical stance.

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The lawyers maintain that Ms Murray has the right to express views on women's and girls' rights.

Despite the choir having performed for Scope at previous marathons without any issues, the charity maintained its stance by citing its commitment to supporting trans and non-binary disabled people.

Following significant public backlash, Scope extended a fresh invitation to the Singing Striders, but the group declined.

Ms Murray expressed hope that the charity would reflect carefully on its handling of the situation, emphasising the importance of the matter not only for herself but for all those connected with Scope.

She highlighted that disabled women and girls particularly depend on access to single-sex spaces, services and care.

A spokesman for Scope said: “We are aware of the intention to bring a claim. It would not be appropriate for us to comment further at this stage.”

The row comes over a year after the UK Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the terms "woman" and "sex" in the Equality Act 2010 refer to biological sex rather than gender identity or self-identification.

The Government has faced widespread criticism for its slow implementation of the April 2025 landmark Supreme Court ruling.

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