Latest news with #LetWomen
The Age
26-04-2025
- Politics
- The Age
Former Animal Justice MP involved in scuffle after women's rights rally
Former Animal Justice Party MP Andy Meddick has been involved in a physical scuffle after hundreds of pro-trans protesters amassed near Melbourne's Parliament House to disrupt a women's rights rally on the steps of parliament. Protesters played drums and chanted while the Women Will Speak event occurred on Saturday. Around 50 to 100 attendees to the women's rights rally listened to speeches at midday. Meddick, who was attending the pro-trans protest, got into a verbal altercation with a man following the conclusion of the Women Will Speak rally. Police had just dispersed the crowd and moved to keep the two protests apart. But the members from both sides came into contact on Macarthur Street. The altercation descended into a struggle between the two men, and Meddick was pushed over. Meddick has two transgender children, Kielan and Eden. Melbourne's Women Will Speak rally is part of the global Let Women Speak movement, which argues that laws promoting trans-inclusion have eroded sex-based rights and intruded unreasonably into women's spaces. It follows this month's UK Supreme Court ruling, which decreed that for the purposes of Britain's Equality Act, a woman is defined by her biological sex.
Sydney Morning Herald
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Former Animal Justice MP involved in scuffle after women's rights rally
Former Animal Justice Party MP Andy Meddick has been involved in a physical scuffle after hundreds of pro-trans protesters amassed near Melbourne's Parliament House to disrupt a women's rights rally on the steps of parliament. Protesters played drums and chanted while the Women Will Speak event occurred on Saturday. Around 50 to 100 attendees to the women's rights rally listened to speeches at midday. Meddick, who was attending the pro-trans protest, got into a verbal altercation with a man following the conclusion of the Women Will Speak rally. Police had just dispersed the crowd and moved to keep the two protests apart. But the members from both sides came into contact on Macarthur Street. The altercation descended into a struggle between the two men, and Meddick was pushed over. Meddick has two transgender children, Kielan and Eden. Melbourne's Women Will Speak rally is part of the global Let Women Speak movement, which argues that laws promoting trans-inclusion have eroded sex-based rights and intruded unreasonably into women's spaces. It follows this month's UK Supreme Court ruling, which decreed that for the purposes of Britain's Equality Act, a woman is defined by her biological sex.
Yahoo
09-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Man tries to evict protestors from International Women's Day event for saying ‘no woman has a penis'
A council worker attempted to evict a group from an International Women's Day event after they distributed leaflets declaring 'no woman has a penis'. The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon in Darlington as women gathered at a council-run venue to celebrate the fight for female equality and liberation. Representatives from Let Women Speak, a gender-critical pressure group, attended the function but were told they were not welcome and were even warned the police would be called if they did not leave. The leaflets stated that women do not have penises and men do not have vaginas, and claimed transitioning children is 'profound child abuse'. Let Women Speak was just one of a number of groups that had gathered at the venue to mark International Women's Day. It was being hosted at a venue called Number Forty Skinnergate, described as a 'safe space for everyone on a night out in Darlington town centre'. But the delegates from the group, which describes itself as a global women's rights movement, were told that they were not welcome at the event because the leaflets breached the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED). The PSED is a law that requires public bodies to promote equality and reduce discrimination. A video posted on social media shows a dispute between two members of the group and Andrew Allison, the former Darlington borough council community resilience officer, who now runs the council-funded venue. In the exchange he is heard telling the activists: 'This building is a safe space for all on Friday and Saturday nights, [the] Public Sector Equality Duty requires us to foster good relations between all groups and this isn't doing that I'm afraid, so I am going to have to ask you to leave.' One of the delegates countered that the slogans on the leaflet were 'statements of fact' or 'objective reality'. But Mr Allison said while he was not disputing anything on the leaflet, his role was to ensure the PSED was applied. He said while the venue was advertised as a 'safe space', it was not for those who voiced 'those opinions'. Asked about freedom of speech, Mr Allison replied: 'Freedom of speech is fine but as far as Darlington borough council is concerned freedom of speech doesn't mean thoughtless speech and we have a duty under the Equality Act and unfortunately are going to have to ask you to leave because that doesn't comply with what we do.' Despite being warned that the police would be called if they did not leave, the Let Women Speak delegates refused and stayed until the event finished at around 3pm. Rose Cross, the North East co-ordinator for Let Women Speak said the exchange had left members feeling upset and harassed. She told The Telegraph: 'They demanded we shut down the event organised by a local Darlington woman because of the Let Women Speak leaflets we had on display at the open public event on International Women's Day. 'Mr Allison stormed in, it felt very aggressive. He demanded to speak to the organiser and he talked about protecting safe spaces but where was our free speech and our safe space? 'He said 'you're not welcome here, with these views', told us to leave and threatened to call the police. We felt very harassed, upset and Darlington Council are failing women and free speech. 'We felt discriminated against for being women and for holding perfectly legal views. 'For this to happen on International Women's Day really illustrates how public bodies do not understand the Equality Act and how to apply it. Let Women speak are owed an apology for this sex-based discriminatory behaviour and harassment by Darlington Council. Let Women Speak.' Kellie-Jay Keen, the founder of Let Women Speak who is also known as Posie Parker, said it showed how local authorities had been 'coerced and manipulated to accept the activist version of rights that means that women have no right to speak'. The venue where the incident took place operates as a 'safe space' for locals on a night out in the town and is open on Friday and Saturday nights between 9pm and 2am. On its website it states: 'From reuniting you with lost friends to providing first aid – we are there for you! 'Our volunteer staff have direct links to the police, the CCTV team and door staff around the town so you know you're in a safe place. 'We can provide water, blankets if you are feeling cold, a charger to bring your phone back to life and even flip flops if your feet are hurting. We can also provide first aid and help you report a crime.' Darlington borough council have been contacted for comment. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
