Christian artist reported to police over gender-critical views

Victoria Culf, a Christian artist, was reported to police and barred from her exhibition at Watford Museum after expressing gender-critical views rooted in her faith. She was later wrongly told she was under police investigation.

Mrs Culf, 44, who has exhibited art for two decades, is taking legal action against Watford Borough Council, alleging discrimination, harassment, and breach of contract.

The dispute began when a council worker, whose child was socially transitioning, discussed transgender issues over a cup of tea. Mrs Culf responded: “I wouldn’t be being true to myself if I agreed with you,” adding that based on her Christian beliefs and work with young people, she believed that social transitioning was harmful and that the Tavistock clinic should close.

Though she thought the exchange ended “calmly and amicably”, she was soon informed of harassment claims. The council imposed restrictions on access to her only exhibition.

Court documents reveal the council worker emailed senior staff, claiming police had logged the discussion as an incident. However, police records showed it was not treated as an incident or an investigation, describing it instead as “free speech”. The council employee is also accused of inventing a crime number.

Lawyers at the Christian Legal Centre, who are representing Mrs Culf, have argued the council’s actions led to her exclusion from a community art project, damage to her work, and termination of her contract.

Reacting to the evidence, Mrs Culf said: “I genuinely feared a knock at the door or a call asking me to explain myself, or worse. I now know this was a pack of lies, designed to intimidate me.”