Hundreds take part in rival protests in Dublin on transgender issues

By PA reporter

Hundreds of campaigners took part in rallies on opposing sides of the transgender debate in Dublin on Saturday.

A large gardaí presence was visible in and around Merrion Square for the two events and metal barriers were erected to create a space between the rival demonstrations.

Women’s rights activist Kellie-Jay Keen, also known as Posie Parker, was a central figure at the Let Women Speak event on Merrion Square South.

Father Ted creator Graham Linehan, another vocal critic of aspects of the trans rights movement, was also among those who attended that event.

The counter demo organised by Trans and Intersex Pride Dublin assembled outside the Dáil on Kildare Street ahead of marching to Merrion Square.

Leading trans activist Jenny Maguire told the crowd: “We as queer people are forced into a world that’s not meant for us.

“We do everything we can to force a world that accepts us and that can love us all unapologetically, and it is them that wants to reverse any progress we’ve made so far and pull us back into the Dark Ages.”

She added: “Trans people aren’t going anywhere.”

At Merrion Square, the trans campaigners chanted and played loud disco music in a bid to drown out speakers addressing the crowd at the Let Women Speak event on the other side of the metal barriers.

Linehan chatted and posed for selfies with well wishers at the Let Women Speak rally.

He criticised the rival event.

“I just want to kind of expose them for trying to silence women and that’s why I’m here,” he said.

The writer said the vast majority of people agreed with his position on the trans issue.

“It’s only a few extremists who don’t think that women shouldn’t have their own sports and their own private spaces,” he added.