Transactivists close down clothes swap

[DrRadFem]

www.facebook.com/events/1192659824170075/permalink/1197709540331770/

I've been organising free clothes swaps in south east London since 2013. Attended mainly, but not exclusively, by women and their children, they are fun events that save money and the environment and strengthen and enrich the community.

The Birds Nest thebirdsnestpub.com/ have hosted many of our swaps in their back room. I am also a regular customer at the pub.

I had planned an event there next Friday 6th April. However, a local transactivist came on to the event page a few days ago and threatened to disrupt it (see attached screenshot).

I asked the managers to have a word with this man (also a regular customer) and to ban him from the event to ensure our safety. However, their response was to immediately cancel our event and to take no action on the man.

I'm extremely upset on a personal level but also furious that men can make violent threats against women, specifically in front of their children, yet simultaneously claim victim status.

This is how transactivism works

It doesn't make sense...

It sounds like his reason was Venice's reputation. Worth a complaint to the police?

I imagine it's simply because Venice Allen organises it and she is currently public enemy number 1 with a lot of transactivists. So they will shut down anything she does as punishment for do6jng the We Need to Talk series and the meeting in Parliament.

I would report that to the police. I’m sure that’s a malicious communication or whatever they call it ..

So wait, are clothes swaps TERFy because a lot of the clothing that women would be offering for a swap wouldn't fit Andi/other TIMs? Or is he just furious that you're allowed to enter public spaces at all?

Venues need to stop caving to this shit, it's just encouraging the little shits to stamp their feet and scream every time they don't like something.

OMFG. That is quite shocking actually, especially in terms of the subsequent action taken by the Birds Nest.

I second reporting this to the police and facebook, surely this counts as a malicious communication, harassment or threat of physical violence [whatever the correct terminology is].

I am sorry this has happened to you and your community

That is terrible. These venues are so spineless. OP would you like to give us the contact details of the venue so that we could express our dismay?

What in the world?

So the basics of this are -
If you disagree with someone, you’re entitled to ruin everything they do in their home life, professionally and in their spare time?

Just so we know where we stand.

Might have to contact the pub too and let them know how disappointed I am.

Everyone is welcome at the clothes swaps, including people who identify as trans. The only reason they made a threat is because I'm the organiser.

Have you reported it to the police?

Whatever law might or might not come in at some point in the future, this is a man making threats of violence against women and children based on nothing other than his own violent sense of male entitlement.

Rain - Venice has put a link to the Birds Nest Pub in her OP. It has a twitter feed and a facebook page from the look of it.

"Even less balls than Milwall", from the look of it. Milwall closed down a political meeting - this pub just closed down an event to swap children's clothes. (In Deptford, FGS - presumably a place where women on low incomes may well rely on this sort of swap scheme to keep their children clothed).

You could put this in AIBU, perhaps changing the title to something less likely to put off people "bored with trans threads".

The pub should be ashamed of themselves.

Although I'm guessing their decision is underpinned by fear rather than because they agree with him.

I'd prefer if people didn't leave bad reviews of the pub as that is sinking to the transactivists' level but if you want to let them know that you are disappointed with their decision, please contact them privately thebirdsnestpub.com/

Doesn't this fall under harassment and stalking law. Report to the police.

The effect of such behaviour is to curtail a victim's freedom, leaving them feeling that they constantly have to be careful. In many cases, the conduct might appear innocent ( if it were to be taken in isolation), but when carried out repeatedly so as to amount to a course of conduct, it may then cause significant alarm, harassment or distress to the victim.

Prosecutors should note that stalking and harassment of another or others can include a range of offences such as those under: the Protection from Harassment Act 1997; the Offences Against the Person Act 1861; the Sexual Offences Act 2003; and the Malicious Communications Act 1988. It is important when considering this type of offending to look at all relevant legislation when formulating charges.

Yes I imagine the pub cancelled it to avoid any trouble, rather than necessarily because they support the trans activist.

How shit though. And I see he does the usual thing of pulling out 'all the dead trans kids' as well. Do as we say otherwise we will all kill ourselves and it will be all your fault.

Bloody hell.

What I'm getting from this is the same as circle, above. "I don't like your opinions so that gives me carte blanche to wreck everything you touch".

Oppressed by a fucking clothes swap? I've heard it all now. Utterly juvenile. And the act of a raging narcissist.

Exactly ellenripleys.

Who threatens suicide to get their way?

Abusers and narcissists.

I agree that this is harrassment. Do you feel strongly enough to take it to the police? I have an inkling of how much shit you must get, DrRadFem, so totally understand if not.

Which dead trans kids is Andi referring to there?

I agree with going to the police about this.

Disgusting behaviour on the part of the transactivist. It's pure spite and quite worrying that they've taken it beyond the reasonable bounds of the issue being discussed and are intruding into OP's personal life. Definitely call the police as this is malicious and you don't know what they might do next.

[email protected]

It gets worse every day.

to you Venice. And good on you for keeping doing good work in the community.

I also think it may be worth contacting the police. Any lawyers here who can comment?

It would be great if the general public would start to recognize the constant raising of suicide as the manipulative, abusive behavior that it is.

Venus is not responsible for trans people killing themselves, especially not by organizing something as harmless as a clothes swap. This is just "she's a witch" with a pomo spin.

I haven't decided whether to go to police or not. I've called them about previous threats from transactivists and they haven't expressed any interest. I will see how I feel after Easter. Thanks for all of your support x