Trans Activists Disrupt Green Party Event on Women's Health

Trans activists interrupted a Green Party conference event focused on women's health on Sunday, attempting to prevent a speaker from addressing the attendees. A member of the Green Party's executive was reportedly among the group that entered the Green Party Women fringe event.

The protesters, identified as part of the LGBTIQA+ Greens, unfurled a trans flag while physiotherapist and campaigner Elaine Miller was speaking via Zoom about female pelvic health. Members of Green Party Women physically intervened to keep the screen visible.

Prior to the demonstration, the LGBTIQA+ Greens had accused Ms. Miller of being a "notorious campaigner against trans rights" and deemed her appearance a "safeguarding issue," despite her speaking in a professional medical capacity.

Green Party Women criticized the protest, calling it an attempt to intimidate women's rights campaigners and hinder women's access to the party's political system. Jude English, chair of Green Party Women, stated that it was "undermining to have a member of the executive trying to no-platform a female speaker."

Among those involved in the protest was Dylan Lewis-Creser, the non-binary co-chair of LGBTIQA+ Greens, who also sits on the Green Party executive alongside party leader Zack Polanski.

Ms. Miller expressed surprise at being labeled a "transphobe," noting that her work includes addressing issues faced by women transitioning to male after taking testosterone. She criticized the group's approach, stating, "They would rather prevent a debate at party conference... make that make sense."

Her presentation was focused on pelvic health and the environmental impact of plastic incontinence pads. Ms. Miller highlighted on X that women's health issues are connected to environmental concerns, which she believed should be of interest to attendees at the Green Party conference.

The LGBTIQA+ Greens released a statement acknowledging the importance of healthcare issues but asserting that they "cannot accept the platforming of a notorious campaigner against the rights of trans people."

This incident follows the Green Party executive's decision to ban the women's rights group Green Women's Declaration from attending the conference. The executive cited concerns that the group's focus on "defending sex-based rights" and female-only spaces could make transgender members feel unsafe.

Green Women's Declaration responded to the day's events by calling it "Institutional misogyny writ large" and stating their determination to continue their advocacy.

Earlier, the Green Party had also advised members to avoid terminology such as 'mothers and fathers,' suggesting 'parents and carers' to be more inclusive of individuals who do not conform to traditional gender norms.

The Green Party has been contacted for comment on the matter.