The annual conference of the LGB Alliance, held on October 11, 2024, in London, took a surprising turn when a group of protesters interrupted the event by releasing thousands of live crickets into the packed auditorium. The incident, which occurred at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in Westminster, quickly garnered attention both from within the conference and across social media, igniting widespread discussion about the ongoing tensions between pro- and anti-trans rights groups in the UK.
Crickets Take Centre Stage
The disruption occurred just as Jamie Reed, a speaker known for her anti-trans activism, prepared to address the audience. Reed, a former caseworker at the Washington University Transgender Center, has become a vocal critic of gender-affirming care for transgender youth. According to reports, several protesters among the attendees released sacks filled with crickets into the auditorium, causing chaos as the insects scattered across the room. Attendees reacted with alarm, with some seen climbing onto chairs, while others quickly exited the venue.
Security personnel swiftly intervened, detaining four individuals believed to be responsible for the protest. The Metropolitan Police were called to the scene, and while no arrests were made, an investigation into the incident is ongoing. A spokesperson for the police confirmed that the details of the protesters had been taken and that security had escorted them from the premises. The LGB Alliance later confirmed that some scheduled sessions were cancelled due to the disruption, but the conference continued after the venue staff addressed the situation.
Who is the LGB Alliance?
The LGB Alliance was founded in 2019 as a response to what its founders perceived as an overreach by the prominent LGBTQ+ organization, Stonewall, particularly regarding transgender issues. The group positions itself as an advocacy organization focused on the rights of lesbian, gay, and bisexual people, but it has been widely criticized for its exclusion of trans individuals and for promoting anti-trans rhetoric. The group has also opposed conversion therapy bans that include protections for transgender people, further fueling accusations of transphobia.
Despite its controversies, the LGB Alliance has maintained a platform within certain circles, attracting figures such as J.K. Rowling, the best-selling author who has faced significant backlash for her statements on transgender rights. Rowling delivered the opening remarks at the conference, reportedly receiving applause when she declared that “lesbians don’t have penises,” a statement that aligns with her consistent opposition to gender identity movements. Rowling later took to social media to condemn the cricket incident, questioning whether the protesters realized that their actions might reinforce criticisms of gender identity ideologies.
Trans Kids Deserve Better
The group behind the protest was identified as Trans Kids Deserve Better, a UK-based advocacy group focused on protecting the rights of transgender youth. On Instagram, the group posted a satirical video in which a person dressed as a cricket delivered a mock news report on the incident, proudly claiming responsibility for the disruption. The video framed the crickets as “brave bugs” who had successfully halted Jamie Reed’s speech on the dangers of gender-affirming care.
In a separate statement accompanying their crowdfunding campaign, Trans Kids Deserve Better explained their motivation for releasing the crickets. The group stated that allowing the LGB Alliance’s conference to proceed as planned would have resulted in “an acceleration of transphobic hate and misinformation,” particularly around transgender healthcare. The protesters viewed the act as a necessary intervention to protect the dignity and rights of transgender people, particularly children, whose access to gender-affirming care is under increasing threat in the UK.
The cricket release at the LGB Alliance conference was not the group’s first high-profile protest. Just a month prior, Trans Kids Deserve Better had made headlines for staging an encampment outside the headquarters of the UK Department for Education. The encampment, which was maintained by more than 20 trans teenagers, aimed to pressure the government into implementing stronger protections for transgender students in schools. The group has consistently utilized direct action tactics to draw attention to the challenges faced by transgender youth in the UK.
The Ongoing Tensions Around Trans Rights
Over the past several years, the country has seen a sharp rise in both activism and backlash surrounding transgender issues, particularly regarding healthcare access and legal protections. Groups like Trans Kids Deserve Better argue that transgender people, especially children, are facing unprecedented levels of hostility, with proposed changes to healthcare guidelines threatening to limit access to necessary treatments.
On the other side of the debate, organizations like the LGB Alliance contend that the push for transgender rights is undermining the rights and identities of lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals. They argue that gender identity movements promote harmful ideologies, particularly when it comes to medical interventions for young people. These groups have been accused of fostering a trans-exclusionary agenda that dismisses the legitimacy of transgender identities.
The presence of figures like Jamie Reed and J.K. Rowling at the LGB Alliance conference underscores the ideological divide. Reed’s role as a self-described “whistleblower” against gender-affirming care has made her a contentious figure in the debate. She claims that transgender healthcare practices, particularly for minors, are fraught with ethical concerns, a position that has been embraced by anti-trans activists but widely condemned by medical professionals and LGBTQ+ advocacy groups.
Rowling, meanwhile, has become one of the most high-profile opponents of transgender rights movements. While she insists that her concerns are rooted in protecting women’s spaces and safeguarding children, her statements have drawn accusations of transphobia from activists, celebrities, and fans alike. Her involvement in the LGB Alliance conference further solidifies her alignment with anti-trans groups, despite the backlash she continues to face.
