The Hate Crime and Public Order Bill arrives at a point where the debate around gender identity and sex is contested and volatile, and introduces new ‘stirring up hatred’ offences, which includes transgender identity.
Highlighting the lack of a freedom of expression provision for transgender identity, the Scottish Police Federation submission to the Justice Committee states that 'People are already frightened to enter the trans debate…’ spf.org.uk/wp-content/upl… 
The following links show where people have already felt justified in trying to limit as “hateful” the expression of certain views which other people hold to be important statements of fact, with no hateful content.
A transgender woman is accused of hate speech for wearing a t-shirt stating “Trans women are men. Get over it!”
telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/12/2…
telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/12/2…
Referring to stickers that are understood to say ‘Female is a biological reality’ & ‘Woman. Noun. Adult Female’, the University of Edinburgh Principal states Police Scotland has been contacted, and those responsible will be traced via CCTV & disciplined. thetimes.co.uk/article/princi…
A University of Edinburgh event to discuss sex-based rights is said to afford "credibility to… views expressing hate and phobic sentiments towards members of the University community” and provide "material support to speakers with a transphobic agenda”.
change.org/p/university-o…
change.org/p/university-o…
MSP Patrick Harvie states that the Scottish Parliament was used as a platform for transphobic hatred and bigotry, in reference to an event at which Meghan Murphy spoke about her belief in sex-based rights. scotsman.com/news/politics/…
Freedom Press describe the feminist group @Womans_Place_UK as a transphobic hate group that propagates violent anti-transgender rhetoric.
freedomnews.org.uk/say-no-to-tran…
freedomnews.org.uk/say-no-to-tran…
The Equality Network describes those arguing for a separate sex and gender identity question in the census as ‘anti-trans lobbyists’.
mailchi.mp/equality-netwo…
mailchi.mp/equality-netwo…
Charity Mermaids state that sharing JK Rowling’s blog “mightn’t necessarily be treated as a deliberate act of transphobia” but could also be “a deliberate act of aggression and "severe harassment"
MP Nadia Whittome states that to debate issues around trans rights is a “foot in the door for doubt and hatred”.
Sarah Phillimore discovered she was on a police database though police agree she has not committed any offence & she strongly contests any hate. Her case raises qns about record keeping of "stirring up" reports, even where the police take no further action
Complaints are made to Network Rail that a poster at Waverley Station saying "I ❤️ JK Rowling" is transphobic and the company is asked to take it down. The company agrees to do so, "owing to its political nature". thetimes.co.uk/article/jk-row…
