UK: Sticker protest on Antony Gormley's beach statues accused of 'trans hatred'

Protesters have been accused of “trans hatred” after pasting phallus-shaped stickers on the genitalia of Antony Gormley’s statues on Crosby beach, saying “women don’t have penises”.

Liverpool ReSisters, a small women’s rights group which argues against the right to “self-identify” as a woman, posted a picture on Twitter showing a sticker on one of the 100 statues on Crosby beach which make up Gormley’s Another Place installation.

The group said the stickers were aimed at raising awareness of “the potential threat to sex-based rights and women’s rights” from proposed changes to the Gender Recognition Act.

Joe Anderson, Liverpool’s mayor, vowed to remove the stickers and “work with the police to identify those responsible”. He tweeted: “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.”

Merseyside police said they were aware of the stickers and were making inquiries to see if a crime had been committed.

The stickers were condemned by a coalition of women’s groups including Big Love Sista, the Homeless Period Project, Grrrl Power Liverpool and the Liverpool Queer Collective. In an open statement addressed to “our trans siblings”, the groups said: “In our city there’s no room for hate against trans people. We condemn the behaviour, hate and transphobia of ‘Liverpool Re-sisters.’ We condemn their appalling stickers and we absolutely will not tolerate transphobia in our city.” Read more via Guardian