By Rachael Wong
Attempts to silence women who simply want to discuss and defend their sex-based rights are escalating.
Since the attacks on Victorian Liberal MP Moira Deeming by media and politicians for her attendance at Kellie-Jay Keen’s (aka Posie Parker) 'Let Women Speak' event in Melbourne, several things have happened.
Moira Deeming
Moira has been suspended from the Victorian Liberal Party for nine months. This may sound like an improvement on Liberal leader John Pesutto’s initial attempt to expel her, but it is just as irrational and unjust, because she did nothing wrong.
This is abundantly clear in her comprehensive rejection of Pesutto’s case against her provided to her Liberal Party colleagues, which categorically refutes his absurd assertion that she somehow supports Nazis.
The reality is, Pesutto did not have the numbers to expel Moira because there was no case to do so, and the decision to suspend her was made to try and (unsuccessfully) save face.
This is spelled out in an excellent segment with Peta Credlin, which also reveals the powerful and heart-breaking speech Moira gave her colleagues on the morning of the motion to expel her.
In the speech, Moira shared deeply personal and traumatic revelations about her past to illustrate why the fight for women’s sex-based rights and protections are so important to her. In response, Sex Work Law Reform Victoria disgracefully mocked her for ‘playing the victim’ on Twitter. They deleted the tweet after I called them out on it.
Mocking a rape victim? @SWLRV, you are a disgrace.https://t.co/Hyk6UFjcq7 pic.twitter.com/1b0SPdjz23
— Rachael Wong (@RachaelWongAus) March 28, 2023
Let Women Speak
Women were protested by trans activists at the various Australian Let Women Speak events, with hundreds screaming down the event in Tasmania. But things really took an ugly turn in Auckland, New Zealand this past weekend.
Thousands of trans activists swarmed the event. Kellie-Jay Keen was assaulted by a trans-identifying male who poured tomato juice over her head as she went up to speak and the mob became so aggressive that she feared for her life, leaving the event, and ultimately New Zealand.
To those celebrating/who participated in the violent, deranged, media-incited mob that chased @ThePosieParker out of NZ: Thank you for holding the ugly, misogynistic face of gender ideology out for all to see & for proving exactly why we need women-only spaces & to #LetWomenSpeak pic.twitter.com/FWVKEF8SM5
— Rachael Wong (@RachaelWongAus) March 26, 2023
Men tore down barriers. Women were spat on, chased, had projectiles thrown at them, were grabbed by the hair, and pulled to the ground. A 70-year-old woman was headbutted and repeatedly punched in the head.
HORRIFIC: Trans activist headbutts, repeatedly punches 70yr woman in head at #LetWomenSpeakAuckland, fracturing her skull
— Rachael Wong (@RachaelWongAus) March 30, 2023
Worse, this #MVAW was incited/uncondemned by media/MPs/TRAs
Welcome to 2023 when women can't meet to talk about their rights w/out being brutally assaulted pic.twitter.com/SPUt9UEQZ1
Worse, this horrendous violence was incited and left uncondemned by media, politicians, and trans rights activists.
The scenes were described by some attendees as ‘zombie apocalyptic’. All the while, the police were noticeably absent. Indeed, a recent harrowing account of (seemingly intentional) police inaction that day raises the need for an official inquiry.
Harrowing account of police inaction at #LetWomenSpeakAuckland
— Rachael Wong (@RachaelWongAus) March 30, 2023
Linda: "Can you help us, women are getting hurt"
Police: "We're not here to protect you"
Thank you @SeanPlunket @theplatform_nz for covering this.
There must be an official inquiry.
Full🎥 https://t.co/6ol0roTPkE pic.twitter.com/RIS8Kghzmt
It is ironic, to say the least, that the attacks aimed at silencing Moira, Kellie-Jay and other women took place in the context of an event titled 'Let Women Speak', where women gathered simply to discuss concerns like men in women's spaces and the reality of biological sex. If anything, such attacks only serve to prove that such a movement is more necessary than ever.
This is exactly the message Kellie-Jay Keen communicated after the failed Auckland event, her tomato juice splashed image becoming an icon of courage and defiance.
And there's no doubt that thanks to the events of the past few weeks, many more women (and men) have been woken up to the violent, misogynistic, intolerant face of gender ideology, and that many more will follow.
Rachael Wong is the CEO of Women's Forum Australia
Women’s Forum Australia is an independent think tank that undertakes research, education and public policy advocacy on issues affecting women and girls, with a particular focus on addressing behaviours and practices that are harmful and abusive to them. We are a non-partisan, non-religious, tax-deductible charity. We do not receive any government funding and rely solely on donations to make an impact. Support our work today.
| I’ll stand with women ▷ |