A counter-protest has been planned against a rally which is due to take place in Bristol city centre this weekend.
A group called Standing for Women is due to hold a rally at College Green at 1pm on Sunday, June 19. And trans rights activists will hold a rally of their own at the same place, beginning at 12pm.
In a statement which has been widely shared on social media, an organisation called Bristol Against Hate has written: "Right-wing agitators intend to host a transphobic rally. We are clear: trans rights are human rights and these rights will be defended."
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Standing for Women's founder, Kellie-Jay Keen, has said that she does not believe trans women are women, and that they should not be recognised as women by law. In a 2018 appearance on ITV This Morning, she said: "I really don't think you can change sex in any meaningful way".
A description of the group's background on their website says that they exist to fight "an erosion of our rights as the biological sex of women". However, the counter-protesters say that Keen "is certainly no feminist".
Their statement also encouraged people to cover their face and hair when attending the protest to protect them from being 'doxxed' (when personal details about an individual are published publicly, usually online). Standing for Women has been approached for comment.
