The Epoch Times
The Epoch Times
AD
The Epoch Times
Support Us
SHARE
World NewsAustralia News

Victorian Government Orders Transgender Flag Flown in Response to Women’s Rights Protest

Rallies against transgenders in women's spaces disrupted by ugly incidents

Copy
Facebook
X
Truth
Gettr
LinkedIn
Telegram
Email
Save
Victorian Government Orders Transgender Flag Flown in Response to Women’s Rights Protest
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews delivers his victory speech at the Labour election party in his seat of Mulgrave in Melbourne, Australia on Nov. 26, 2022. Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images
Daniel Y. Teng
By Daniel Y. Teng
3/22/2023Updated: 3/22/2023
0:00

A new transgender flag will fly in front of Melbourne’s Treasury Place alongside two LGBT+ pride flags until the end of the month.

The Victorian state Labor government made the decision following a rally arguing against transgender people entering women’s sports and spaces.

State Premier Daniel Andrews wrote on Twitter, “Because we‘ll always respect you. And we’ll always have your back.”

Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said flying the flag was in response to the “unprecedented attack on trans-Victorians.”

“We are talking about a rally—protest—that was designed to tell trans people that they did not deserve to exist,” Thomas told reporters on March 22.

“We will stand beside trans-Victorians, against hate speech [and] against the disgusting behaviours that we saw on the weekend,” she added.

“There was so much wrong with what we saw on the weekend, even before the Nazis turned up.”

The health minister was referring to protestors—performing Nazi salutes—that gatecrashed a women’s rights rally on March 18, arguing against transgenders in women’s sports and spaces.

Women’s Rights Rally Sidelined By LGBT+, Neo-Nazi Protests

The rally on the steps of Victoria’s Parliament House was attended by women’s rights advocates Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull (also known as Posie Parker), Katherine Deves, and Victorian Liberal MP Moira Deeming.

They were confronted by hundreds of LGBT+ activists and supporters of socialism, who were cordoned off by police on the other side of the street—although some managed to break through the buffer zone to disrupt the rally.

In the middle of all this, a small group of men walked into the buffer zone, dressed in black, while performing the Nazi salute.

After the incident, MP Deeming took to social media to express disappointment with Victoria Police for letting the masked men through.

“Police managed to stop hordes of (trans rights activists) but somehow could only walk masked men past us (as) they did a horrible Nazi salute,” she wrote on Twitter.

The actions of the men drew national media attention, however, effectively side-lining concerns over transgenders entering women’s spaces.

The Australian Jewish Association did speak out in support of the rights rally while criticising the police’s actions.

READ MORE
  • Victorian MP to be Expelled for Attending Women’s Rights Rally Against Transgenders in Sports
  • Women’s Rights Sidelined After Neo-Nazis Hijack Event and Win National Media Attention

Transgenderism Takes Centre Stage in Neighbouring State

Days later in Sydney, the issue of transgenderism again reared its head, this time amid the state’s election campaign.

Clashes erupted between rival protest groups after LGBT+ activists blocked a church venue where One Nation’s New South Wales leader Mark Latham was to deliver an allegedly “anti-trans” speech.

Around 15 LGBT+ protestors, organised by the Community Action for Rainbow Rights, waited outside St. Michael’s Church Belfield in Sydney’s multicultural western region on the evening of March 21.

Soon hundreds of individuals confronted the group, which also allegedly included members of the Christian Lives Matter movement, resulting in scuffles and two individuals being arrested.

One Nation’s Latham condemned the violence but also said what the LGBT+ protestors did was wrong.

“They were going to block [the entrance] and deny access to the front entry to the church,” Latham told 2GB radio, saying police told his assistant to park around the back instead.

“I was greeted by mainly mothers and grandmothers who wanted to hear about school education, parental rights, and all the issues I’ve been raising during the election campaign,” he said.

Latham has been a vocal critic of the state’s education system, exposing young students to issues like gender fluidity and transgenderism.

READ MORE
  • Clashes Erupt Outside Sydney Church Over ‘Anti-Trans’ Speech

The latest incidents come following revelations a transgender player would participate in the women’s NBL1 South league.

“Members of that club don’t know. Other teams in that league don’t know,” said former NBA star Andrew Bogut on Instagram. “I’m not afraid to speak about it. I think it needs to be discussed.”

“This athlete in question has already played the game. From what I understand, a friendly game against a team that had no idea it was going forward. They asked some questions, apparently before the game [and] the game still went ahead—kind of like, ‘Too bad, deal with it.'”

Daniel Y. Teng
Daniel Y. Teng
Writer
Daniel Y. Teng is based in Brisbane, Australia. He focuses on national affairs, including federal politics and Australia-China relations. Got a tip? Contact him at [email protected].
twitter
Author’s Selected Articles

After Outpolling the Greens, Where Do Australia’s Minor Conservative Parties Go From Here?

May 13, 2025
After Outpolling the Greens, Where Do Australia’s Minor Conservative Parties Go From Here?

India Soon to Surpass UK as Largest Migrant Community in Australia: ABS

Apr 30, 2025
India Soon to Surpass UK as Largest Migrant Community in Australia: ABS

Australia’s Challenge: Compete or Be Left Behind in the New US Trade Order

Apr 16, 2025
Australia’s Challenge: Compete or Be Left Behind in the New US Trade Order

Battle Over Beef: Ranchers Say Australia's Protectionism Dressed Up as Biosecurity

Apr 07, 2025
The Beef Over Beef: A Dispute About Tariffs and Protectionism, but Not the Way You Imagine It
Related Topics
MELBOURNE
transgender
victoria
daniel andrews
dan andrews
transgenderism
Save
The Epoch Times
Copyright © 2000 - 2025 The Epoch Times Association Inc. All Rights Reserved.