A women’s rights group in Liverpool took to the beach and spread phallus-shaped stickers reading ‘Women don’t have penises’.
Many critics are calling the move transphobic.
The small group known as Liverpool ReSisters are responsible for the stickers. As they describe on their website, the group is made up of ‘adult human females’ who ‘come from a variety of backgrounds, have various political views and different education experiences’. What unites them is their biology.
They posted photos of the stickers on Crosby beach to Twitter.
1,000 statues, all men. Women don't have penises. #StickerWoman #NoToSelfID #sexmatters pic.twitter.com/HxUVUM6Rv1
— @LiverpoolReSisters (@LiverpoolReSis1) August 18, 2018
‘Women don’t have penises,’ the tweet reiterated. It also included the hashtags ‘#NoToSelfID’ and ‘#sexmatters’.
In explaining why the group exists, their website simply states: ‘There is no scientific basis for an innate feeling of gender. The people who claim that “trans women are women” are, in actual fact, promoting deeply misogynistic and homophobic ideals.’
Liverpool ReSisters came about due to ‘the current attack on women’s rights that is happening in the United Kingdom in 2018’.
In the past day, they’ve tweeted about placing more stickers.
#StickerWoman is a gal on the go today. We will not be silenced. We will protect women’s rights. pic.twitter.com/ygRcgxCqBv
— @LiverpoolReSisters (@LiverpoolReSis1) August 21, 2018
A crusade against trans people
Many people were quick to criticize the vandalism. The group was also labeled as being made up of TERFs aka trans-exclusionary radical feminists.
Protesting about too many statues of men is completely reasonable. It has absolutely nothing to do with your crusade against trans people.
— Tom Coates (@tomcoates) August 18, 2018
You may pass your campaign as ‘biological fact’ but your intentions clearly make this hateful… You should all be ashamed of yourselves. I don’t know how much your crappy stickers cost but #ItCostsNothingToBeNice #GoodPeopleDontHaveHatred #TransWomenAreWomen
— Harry Doyle (@harrydoyle96) August 20, 2018
Joe Anderson, the mayor of Liverpool, also chimed in on Twitter.
‘I am not aware of the group, we will remove stickers and work with the Police to identify those responsible,’ he wrote.
‘Remember though,Liverpool takes #PRIDE in its diversity and history of fighting for equality for all, we love all our Trans residents and all our LGBT community.’
I am not aware of the group, we will remove stickers and work with the Police to identify those responsible. Remember though,Liverpool takes #PRIDE in its diversity and history of fighting for equality for all, we love all our Trans residents and all our LGBT community😘😍🙏 https://t.co/YJdsA6uXXo
— Joe Anderson (@joeando58) August 18, 2018
Other feminist and women’s rights groups released an open letter condemning the acts by Liverpool ReSisters.
NO TERFS ON OUR TURF. Liverpool is not and never will be here for transphobia. pic.twitter.com/iWvLEyJu1q
— GrrrlPowerLiverpool (@GrrrlPowerLPool) August 19, 2018
‘To our trans siblings, this city is yours,’ the letter begins.
‘We are womxn and non-binary people of Liverpool and in our city there’s no room for hate against trans people.’
It ends: ‘Our feminist spaces will always be trans-inclusive. … Our spaces are your spaces.’
More from Gay Star News
This transphobic group of lesbians was just recognized as a church by the IRS
Transphobic professor to speak at Australian uni, despite calls for ban
Trans people tweet about transgender privilege to reveal what their reality is like