The Trans Agenda: Streeting’s office targeted as trans people Bash Back

4 August 2025

Bash Back target Wes Streeting’s office [The Standard]

Anti-trans Health Secretary Wes Streeting’s east London constituency office was targeted by the protest group Bash Back, who broke windows and sprayed “child killer” on the building. The group said the action was in response to Streeting’s “continued abuse of trans people in the medical system, and attempts to cover up the suicides of trans young people under his watch”. Bash Back also accused the government of attempting to “erase trans people from public life”. Streeting pompously condemned the action as “an attack on democracy”. The Metropolitan Police have launched an investigation, confirming no injuries or arrests. Read Bash Back’s detailed statement in full at the link in the header.

No English printed newspaper seems to have covered this, but The National (Scotland) did.

Kate Forbes to step down as MSP [The National]

Politics in the UK will be one anti-trans politician lighter by this time next year after MSP Kate Forbes announced she will not seek re-election next year. She is currently the SNP’s deputy leader and has overseen a roll-back in the party’s support for trans people alongside John Swinney, who replaced Humza Yusaf as leader.

Nesbitt orders trans clinic timeline [News Letter]

Northern Ireland’s Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has ordered officials to produce a full timeline of the region’s clinic which treats trans children, including what past ministers were told, as politicians in the occupied six counties try to work out who is to ‘blame’ for there being any service at all. The move follows criticism from DUP figures such as Edwin Poots, who denies authorising the clinic, despite it operating when he was Health Minister. Nesbitt recently allocated £806,000 to expand services, aiming to reduce waiting times and improve care for children, young people and adults. It is not nearly enough.

EU Commission reverses course on anti-discrimination directive [ILGA]

The European Commission has revived its draft Equal Treatment Directive following a 33,000‑signature petition and strong criticism. The proposal, first tabled in 2008, extends anti‑discrimination protections beyond employment to areas such as education, housing, healthcare and access to services, covering age, disability, religion or belief, and sexual orientation. The EC had planned to withdraw the proposed directive.

Australia – ‘Pregnant women’s rights for trans’ [The Australian]

Australia’s Sex Discrimination Commissioner Anna Cody has argued in a Federal Court submission that protections for “pregnant or potentially pregnant women” under the Sex Discrimination Act should extend to trans women. The case centres on Roxanne Tickle, a trans woman who successfully claimed she was unlawfully excluded from the Giggle app, run by Sall Grover. Cody argues the Act’s 2013 removal of the definition of “woman” supports an inclusive interpretation.

USA – States sue Trump over youth gender-affirming care crackdown [Dayton Daily News]

17 Democratic officials have sued the Trump administration, accusing it of unlawfully intimidating hospitals into stopping care for trans youth. The lawsuit, led by state attorneys general and the governor of Pennsylvania, argues Trump is trying to impose a nationwide ban without legal authority. Hospitals in states where care is legal have paused or reduced services due to political threats, despite there being no sane medical objections.

Runner slams ‘slippery slope’ gene tests [The Borneo Post]

US distance runner Nikki Hiltz has criticised World Athletics for introducing gene testing for female athletes, warning it sets a “slippery slope” precedent. Hiltz, winner of the women’s 1,500m at the US trials, said while they would comply, the move risks leading to more invasive testing by other organisations, including youth sports.

Pool player loses discrimination case [Fiji Sun]

Professional pool player Harriet Haynes has lost her discrimination claim against the English Blackball Pool Federation (EBPF), which in 2023 banned anyone not labelled female at birth from competing in women’s events. The rule is clearly direct discrimination based on gender reassignment, but the court ruled the exclusion “reasonable” to ensure “fair competition”. She is considering an appeal.

Mariah Carey wears ‘Protect The Dolls’ jacket at Brighton Pride [Yorkshire Post]

Mariah Carey headlined Brighton Pride, pledging she will “always be there” for the LGBTQ+ community. The five-time Grammy winner wore a jacket emblazoned with “Protect The Dolls”, in the colours of the trans flag, alongside a pink, blue and silver dress.

Sherald cancels Smithsonian show [The Week (US)]

Artist Amy Sherald has cancelled her American Sublime exhibition at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery after the Trump administration objected to her painting Trans Forming Liberty, which depicts a trans woman as the Statue of Liberty. Sherald refused to remove the artwork or allow it to be shown with a “viewer reactions” video, saying this would undermine “the value of trans visibility”. Vice President JD Vance, tasked with overseeing content at federally funded museums, reportedly flagged the painting.