At an anti-trans demonstration in Birmingham, England, a young transgender man interrupted transphobic activist Posie Parker’s speech by snatching the microphone, calling the crowd “f**king TERFs,” and attempting to damage the microphone. The man claimed to be a “de-transitioner” but was actually a transgender man trying to make a point. He urged the crowd not to join the “cult” that promotes transphobia and claimed to have suffered from stress and threats due to bad faith actors who made him hate himself for who he was.
The man’s attempt to stay on the microphone for as long as possible led him to be vague about his identity until he finally revealed that he was a transgender man. He then tried to unscrew the microphone’s head to ruin it, but Parker and others stopped him. Parker warned him repeatedly to stop and yelled at him to get his hands off the microphone. According to the man, the group crushed his hands, arms, and left him with small cuts from the force they went in on him. He also claimed to have Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and Nail Pattela syndrome, two painful medical diseases that might increase one’s risk of physical injury.
As the man exited the event, Parker grabbed the microphone and made derogatory comments about him. She claimed that he was “extremely confused” and had taken some “disruptive destructive hormones” and removed his breasts. Parker’s “Let Women Speak” tour has taken her to the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand, where she has faced opposition from trans allies and supporters.
Parker’s use of “de-transitioners” to advocate for the prohibition of gender-affirming medical therapy is not supported by evidence. According to a 2015 poll by the National Center for Transgender Equality, de-transitioners account for up to 3% of the whole trans community, while the majority of trans persons are satisfied with their medical transformations. Moreover, the existence of de-transitioners does not negate the need for gender-affirming medical therapy for those who need it.
TERF stands for “trans-exclusionary radical feminists,” which are persons who oppose trans identities and civil rights. They promote the idea that trans people are not “real” men or women and seek to deny them access to basic human rights such as healthcare, education, and employment. TERFs are not feminists but rather promote a form of gender essentialism that is harmful to all women and people who do not conform to traditional gender roles.
The young transgender man’s actions reflect the frustration and anger felt by many in the trans community who face daily discrimination and violence. Trans people are often denied access to basic human rights and are subjected to harassment and violence simply for being who they are. The transphobic rhetoric promoted by people like Parker only serves to fuel this hatred and make life more difficult for trans people.
In conclusion, the incident at the anti-trans demonstration in Birmingham highlights the ongoing struggle for trans rights and the need to confront transphobia and bigotry. Trans people deserve basic human rights and respect, and it is essential that we work together to create a world where everyone can live without fear of discrimination and violence.
