Transgender rights protesters face-off against UK activist Kellie-Jay Keen in Adelaide
Transgender rights supporters have flocked to Parliament House, to protest against controversial UK activist Kellie-Jay Keen.
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More than 150 pro transgender rights supporters have flocked to the Parliament House on Thursday to protest against controversial UK figure Kellie-Jay Keen’s Adelaide tour.
The protesters outnumbered about 50 supporters of Ms Keen, who were there to listen to her controversial anti-transgender beliefs.
One Ms Keen supporter was seen holding up a “No Cis Sisterhood” sign.
Transgender rights supporters have flocked to Parliament House, to protest against controversial UK activist Kellie-Jay Keen speaking in Adelaide. Details: https://t.co/Pqa2hsXZUJ#TheAdvertiserpic.twitter.com/1ra5xTvqqG
— The Advertiser (@theTiser) March 16, 2023
Both supporters and trans activists were kept apart by more than 17 police officers who stood in a long line.
Nine other police officers stood on the steps to oversee the protest, while another six were on horseback as police cars blocked off a portion of North Tce outside Parliament House.
Many protesters held up handmade signs with rainbow flags in support of the transgender community.
Some signs read “Trans rights are human rights”, “Trans lives matter” and “My junk is my business.”
The crowd chanted: “We will fight, we will win, put your bigots in the bin, put your bigot in the bin” at the beginning of the protest, drowning out the speakers, followed by: “We’re here, we’re queer, don’t f*ck with us were fabulous!”
National Union of Students members organised the protest against Ms Keen’s “anti-trans coalition of the far right, including white supremacists and religious conservatives” advocacy.
UK activist Ms Keen, better known as “Posie Parker”, has made her way to South Australia for her national Let Women Speak Tour.
One speaker said: “I don’t feel like I am a woman, I am a woman. I don’t feel like I have two legs, I have two legs.
“You can identify with what you want, but what you can not do is tell me to believe it. And you cannot tell children to believe it.”
Pro-transgender rights protesters were seen throwing up their middle fingers during the speech.
Trans woman Lucy, 44, from Adelaide, attended the protest to “stand up for trans rights”.
“It’s about recognising us as a human beings,” Lucy said.
“I didn’t chose this journey. It chose me and I’m doing the best I can to live my life as happy and fulfilling as I can.
“Kellie’s deliberately come to our country to spread divisive hate through bigotry. She’s not wanting to listen to the science behind this that supports us.”
Another protester, Karn Proctor, 19, from Semaphore Park, came to the rally to “show support for friends, families and peers” so he can “be on the right side of history”.
“This is a general trans rights protest, but it’s more of an anti protest for blatant transphobia and homophobia,” Mr Proctor said.
Several of Ms Keen’s supporters were approached by The Advertiser at the rally, but declined to provide a comment.
Ms Keen, who also founded Standing for Women, has garnered mass media attention for her controversial views and extreme “women’s rights” advocacy.
The ticket-free tours allow for anyone to show up at any of the nine tour locations to “protect and promote biological reality.”
About 150 protesters showed up to Ms Keen’s Perth tour on Tuesday, with the West Australian reporting that protesters were heard shouting “Posie Parker you can’t hide, you have Nazis on your side.”
On Saturday, trans rights activists protested at Victoria Park in Sydney against Ms Keen’s message.
Originally published as Transgender rights protesters face-off against UK activist Kellie-Jay Keen in Adelaide
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