An event raising concerns about women being threatened by transsexual activists was cancelled, and then relocated, after a harassment campaign by transsexual activists in mid-March.
The event was advertised as looking at ‘how concerns raised by women are being shut down through threats, harassment and accusations of transphobia’.
Speakers included a number of feminist academics who wished to discuss ‘the implications and consequences’ of transgenderism for women.
Constant barrage
Millwall Football Club axed the meeting at The Den stadium, stating that it was ‘concerned for its reputation’. It had been bombarded by phone calls and emails protesting about the event. Organiser Venice Allan said: ‘I got a call from the club saying they’d never experienced anything like it – constant phone calls, emails, tweets.’
University of Bristol
These so-called Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminists (TERFs), a derogatory term given to women by those who hold an opposite opinion, could be banned from speaking on the University of Bristol campus with their views being labelled ‘hate speech’.
The motion was put forward by students after an event hosted by A Woman’s Place UK sought to discuss proposed changes to the Gender Recognition Act. Individual speakers have previously been banned for maintaining that feelings do not change biology. Bristol appears to be the first Students’ Union seeking a blanket ban.
Banning debate
The proposed ban would render students unable to hold events with groups that critique trans activism or engage in open discussion and debate about the potential consequences of changing the Gender Recognition Act law. Changes are likely to include the ability for someone to ‘self declare’ their gender without any physical changes to the body being made (over 70% of people don’t have any surgery, and just declare themselves the opposite gender) or any time frame for living as the ‘opposite sex’ being given.
