A transsexual activist has been fined over an attack on a woman taking part in a public meeting in central London.
Maria MacLachlan was punched and kicked in Hyde Park last September, as she tried to meet with other women to discuss Government plans to allow people to legally self-identify their gender.
Tara Wolf, a 26-year-old man who identifies as a woman, has been told by Hendon Magistrates Court to pay £430 in fines and costs.
‘Extremely shocked’
MacLachlan had been filming at Speakers’ Corner in Hyde Park, when she was assaulted.
She said that she was “extremely shocked” by the attack.
The court was told that before the attack took place, Wolf posted a message to Facebook, saying that ‘Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminists’ (TERFs) “are no better” than fascists.
District Judge Kenneth Grant told MacLachlan to refer to Wolf as “she” during court proceedings, but MacLachlan refused, stating: “I’m used to thinking of this person who is a male as male.”
‘Self-identify’
The UK Government announced last year that the Gender Recognition Act would be reviewed, saying medical checks should be removed to allow for the legal ‘self-declaration’ of gender.
Both Prime Minister Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn have expressed support for such plans – but women’s groups, therapists, doctors, academics, campaigners and even transgender activists have challenged the idea.
The plans have been delayed in England and Wales but Scotland is pressing ahead.