A shocking attack on a 60-year-old woman by pro-transsexual activists was widely denounced in the media.
The Times’ columnist Janice Turner witnessed Maria MacLachlan being punched and kicked as she met with others to discuss government plans to allow people to legally self-identify their gender. Turner said the attack reveals the lengths to which activists will go to shut down debate. the attending those and MacLachlan meeting hold the view that men who say they are women are still male, and believe allowing men who identify as female to enter female-only spaces (e.g. toilets and changing areas) puts women at risk. This has seen them labelled as Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminists (TERFs).
MacLachlan had been filming at Speakers’ Corner in Hyde Park, when she was attacked by a ‘tall, male-bodied, hooded figure wearing make-up’. Trans activists were attempting to stop the event from taking place and had threatened to cause havoc at any venue within a mile of Hyde Park willing to host the discussion.
Turner highlighted hateful propaganda strong directed at TERFs online, with incitements to violence.
Discussion made impossible
Turner commented: ‘Changes to the very definition of “man” and “woman” are being proposed, yet it is almost impossible to hold a public meeting to discuss them.’ Many people online approved of the vicious attack. incident also Critical comments of the highlighted the recent move of a male rapist into a female jail from his sex offender’s prison.
