Posie Parker's Hate Tour: The Feminist Mask of Fascism

Fascists Might Fear Trans Women. But They Are Terrified of Blak Women.

Yesterday the "Let Women Speak" tour arrived in Canberra. It was during this rally that the police assaulted pro-trans Senator Lydia Thorpe.

Thorpe is a proud DjabWurrung Gunnai Gunditjmara woman and powerful Independent Senator. 

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"Let Women Speak" (aka: All Women Besides Blak or Trans Women).

With an Aboriginal flag draped over her shoulders, Thorpe approached anti-trans guru, Posie Parker. British Posie Parker (aka Kellie-Jay Keen) is in Australia on a trans-hate tour: Let Women Speak. 

In Melbourne, Parker's supporters chanted 'white power' and gave Nazi salutes. 

In Canberra, Thorpe was not allowed to speak. Police tackled her, and threw her to the ground, before she could get a word out. 

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The Opportunistic Nature of Fascists.

One white anti-trans protester pounced on the opportunity. While the police manhandled Thorpe, this person stepped forward and struck the senator. In the video footage, we see this opportunistic person walk away. Without repercussions. 

But, wait, it gets worse.

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Racists Masquerading as Feminists

This horrid scene unfolded at the feet of Australia's longstanding racist politician: Pauline Hanson. Let me say that again:

An Aboriginal woman tried to speak at the "Let Women Speak" rally. Instead, she was thrown to the ground at the feet of Australia's most racist politician.

Hanson's party then had the audacity to criticise politicians who didn't attend. Calling them, "weak and gutless."

Conservative politicians hit back. You know something bad is up when even right-wing pollies call it out.

MP Bridget Archer responded to Hanson and her cronies. Archer said that the "Let Women Speak" organisers have "almost stopped pretending that it's about women's rights and they are openly saying that it is an anti-transgender protest."

Read the first sentence of the last paragraph again: In terms of safety, the transgender community have much higher rates of violence perpetrated against them, then even women do so… 

But, wait, there's more.

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Protesting Against Police Brutality Results in Police Brutality.

This is the second time, in less than a month, that police have physically clashed with Thorpe. Late last month, police dragged Thorpe away from Sydney's Mardi Gras parade.

Why?

For protesting against police brutality.

Thorpe's peaceful protest consisted of her lying down in front of a float. It was the police float. She was protesting against the police. So she stopped the procession by lying down on the road. Her solo protest was over before it began, with police swiftly dragging her away. 

It gets worse again. Much, much worse.

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LGBTQ+ People Abuse Senator Lidia Thorpe 

Some LGBTQ+ people went on to show their true colours… and it wasn't no rainbow. 

Instead of solidarity Thorpe copped online backlash from some Mardi Gras organisers. These so-called "organisers" accused Thorpe of "breaching the terms of her participation."

I'm sorry. WTF? 

Now non-Indigenous event organisers want to dictate how an Indigenous woman, and vocal LGBTQ+ ally, is allowed to behave at a protest on Aboriginal land. 

Come off it.

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Racists Masquerading as LGBTQ+ Allies 

It was also said that Thorpe was disrupting the fun and ruining the celebration. Mardi Gras was super on-brand this year. For many, it was their first time attending. Many of those first-timers criticised Thorpe.

These people don't give a flying-fuck about the history of the event. About how hard people fought to make Mardi Gras a safe place for all. 

These people think Mardi Gras is about rainbows and booze. They just want to cover themselves in glitter and get shitfaced.

They don't know that the heart of Mardi Gras is a beating protest. That LGBTQ+ protests have always been plagued by police brutality. They don't understand the relevance and importance of Thorpe's protest.

Let's face it. The colonisers are scared. Scared of Thorpe who isn't scared of anything. Afraid of blak women who aren't afraid to fight for what they believe in. Thorpe is gaining traction and the racists are terrified.

Now, that's something worth celebrating.

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The Pot at the End of the Rainbow

It's time to expose the fascist side of feminism. It's time to expose the racism and homophobia within the LGBTQ community. It's time to stand together against all forms of hate and discrimination. This appropriation needs to stop. It's time to end fascism.

Note on Lidia Thorpe

In 2017, Lidia Thorpe was the first Aboriginal woman elected to the Victorian Parliament. This year, she left the Greens party to advance the Blak Sovereignty movement.

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Stevi-Lee Alver is an Australian writer and tattoo artist. She lives in the middle of Brazil with her wife. She loves bush walks and waterfalls but misses the ocean.

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