Transgender councillor calls in police after former mayor 'misgenders' her in 'hate crime'
A SEX-SWAP councillor has reported a political opponent to the police – alleging that he “misgendered” her.
Transgender councillor Zoe Kirk-Robinson reported Labour opposition Guy Harkin of a hate crime
Tory Zoe Kirk-Robinson accused Labour councillor Guy Harkin of a hate crime after he called her “him” at a meeting.
She claims Mr Harkin, 69, a former mayor of Bolton, repeatedly referred to her as “he” and “him” instead of “she” and “her.”
Ms Kirk-Robinson, a prominent gay rights campaigner and a “Hate Crime Ambassador”, tweeted that Mr Harkin “repeatedly misgendered me in tonight’s council meeting while going off on a personal attack”.
In further tweets she added: “I had hoped Bolton’s leading political group wasn’t transphobic. I will be calling on Bolton Labour Group to denounce his behaviour.
The Tory councillor switched genders from male to female over ten years ago
“Bolton does not welcome transphobia.”
Ms Kirk-Robinson, a writer, artist, filmmaker and game developer, switched genders from male to female more than ten years ago.
Bolton has a problem with hate crime
She went on: “This obviously was a shock and not a pleasant one.
“Bolton has a problem with hate crime. For Councillor Harkin to engage in a personal attack against me serves to legitimise transphobia in the eyes of the average bigot – which makes life harder for all LGBT people.”
She added in a video blog: “It hurt. The guy had no reasons to suggest I was male, he never met me before I transitioned.”
Labour Cllr Guy Harkin repeatedly misgenered me in tonight's Council meeting, while going off on a personal attack against me.
— Zoë Kirk-Robinson (@ZoeKirkRobinson) August 24, 2016
I can't say I'm surprised at his behaviour but I had hoped that Bolton's leading political group wasn't transphobic. https://t.co/yf52jIvmJs
— Zoë Kirk-Robinson (@ZoeKirkRobinson) August 24, 2016
I will be calling on Bolton Labour Group to denounce his behaviour. Bolton does not welcome transphobia. https://t.co/djCE6hg0pN
— Zoë Kirk-Robinson (@ZoeKirkRobinson) August 24, 2016
Mr Harkin said the mistake was a “slip of the tongue” that he was unaware of until it was pointed out next day and it only happened a couple of times.
He added: “I offered to apologise immediately. There is not a homophobic, or any kind of phobic, bone in my body.”
Ms Kirk-Robinson added: “The incident is now out of my hands. I always urge people to report hate crime.”