A transgender activist group which vowed to bring forth a ‘new era of trans rage’ have vandalised a feminist conference in Brighton.

Bash Back, a movement focused on ‘fighting the increasing bigotry in the UK,’ has set its sights on the Brighton Centre, where the FiLiA Women’s Liberation Conference is happening today. 

The three day event is expected to attract over 2,400 delegates for what the charity describes as ‘Europe’s biggest grassroots feminist conference’. 

The group argues that the conference serves as a platform for ‘terfs to gather annually and celebrate attacks on bodily autonomy and the safety of trans people’, claiming it will feature ‘some of the most severe transphobia in popular politics’.

They noted on social media that this year’s FiLiA speakers include ‘bigot provocateurs’ like Julie Bindel, LGB Alliance, and “Scottish Lesbian”—the last of which is tied to the separatist 2025 Supreme Court decision. 

The group also posted a video of the incident, with hooded protesters seen covering the venue in pink paint and smashed on of its windows.

Julie Bindel, who is a journalist, broadcaster, and self-described ‘feminist’ and is attending this year’s conference, shared photos of the damage on X, which was then amplified by JK Rowling, the author of Harry Potter. 

Bindel wrote that ‘Trans activists have broken one of the large front windows of the Brighton Centre, where 2500 feminists are gathering this weekend to discuss issues like male violence and misogyny,’ adding, ‘Why can’t EVERYONE see this movement for what it truly is?’

Members of a transgender activist group have vandalised a feminist conference in Brighton

One of the Brighton Centre’s windows was smashed during the incident, which was carried out by members of Bash Back,

Bash Back took responsibility for the act of vandalism on Instagram on Friday, stating they would not permit the conference attendees the ‘privilege’ of assembling at the venue this year. 

‘Last night actionists from Bash Back took action against the Brighton Centre, venue for the FiLiA conference, which plays host to some of the most vicious transphobia in pop politics. 

‘FiLiA’s alumni this year include bigot-provocateurs Julie Bindel, LGB Alliance and “Scottish Lesbian” – a group behind the segregationist 2025 Supreme Court ruling,

‘Their vile and hateful rhetoric leads to the same kind of discriminatory violence that kills hundreds of trans people every year. 

‘These bigots have out blood on their hands. They use this conference to gloat. This year, we will not let them.’ 

The statement continued: ‘Bash Back sees FiLiA as neight radical nor feminist, spreading misogynist hatred backed by both billionaires and the state. 

‘Like the suffragettes and radical queers before us, that the only path toward liberation is through action. 

To the organisers of FiLiA we say this: If you expect to continue in your trade of transphobic hate, if you expect to continue in your queerbashing and transmisogyny and call it “feminism”, then expect resistance, expect retaliation, expect us. 

‘Paint washes off. Blood never does.’

Protesters and transgender activists outside the FiLiA Women’s Liberation Conference being held at the Brighton Centre

Bash Back claims to be a nonviolent direct action group, which targets ‘specific institutions which profit from transphobia’ and strikes them ‘where it hurts: the wallet.’

‘Direct action is just one of a number of strategies to challenge the transphobic establishment at its door and to show our rage unfettered,’ the group’s website reads.

It has not the first time Bash Back have captured attention with its attacks on ‘transphobic establishments’ and has previously claimed responsibility for vandalising Wes Streeting’s constituency office in August. 

Sharing a photo of the front of Mr Streeting’s office shortly after it had been damaged, they wrote: ‘Don’t want action? Don’t kill kids.’

The MP for Ilford North addressed the vandalism but did not reference the  accusations made by the activists.

‘From day one as Ilford North’s MP I’ve had an accessible and visible constituency office to serve my local community,’ he wrote on X.

‘Repeated criminal damage is unfair to my staff and an attack on democracy. I will not be commenting further while there is a live police investigation.’

Mr Streeting has previously been clear about his stance on the gender debate.

In an interview with Talk Radio last year, he said: ‘Men have penises, women have vaginas; here ends my biology lesson.’  

Police have launched an investigation after the Health Secretary’s HQ in Ilford North had its windows smashed and the words ‘child killer’ daubed on the front in graffiti

But Bash Back is not the only transgender group to have targeted the venue in protest of this weekend’s conference.  

Posters campaigning against the event began appearing around the city earlier this week, put up by TLF (Trans Liberation Front) Brighton – which claims it ‘fights for trans and LGBTQ+ rights across Sussex’.

The group also took to social media to rally its members for a three-day protest outside the Brighton Centre.

Lisa-Marie Taylor, FiLiA CEO, said: ‘FiLiA is a charity that campaigns for a world free from patriarchy where all women and girls are liberated.

‘In line with the Equality Act \(2010\) we support the provision of single sex services and dispute that this equates to transphobia.

‘Brighton is a city of sanctuary – in 2025 it is surely vital that the city supports all groups protected under the Equality Act, including sex-based rights, and promotes diversity and peaceful discussion.

‘There are 250 speakers from across the world and over 80 sessions covering the broad spectrum of women’s lives all over the world: anti-racism, women’s health, male violence, political organising, lesbian lives, migration, class and much more.

‘To protest against FiLiA is to protest against women gathering to discuss their lives.

‘We believe the conference is a powerful platform for women’s voices to be heard and amplified and, in this spirit, we welcome anyone who wishes to join us in good faith.’

Julie Bindel, a journalist, broadcaster and self titled ‘feminist’, is among those attending this year’s conference

A spokesman for the Brighton Centre said: ‘We understand the anxiety and stress that many of our trans, non-binary and intersex residents are feeling at this time.

‘As a city, venue and a council, we will continue to strive towards our unwavering commitment to creating an environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging.

‘The Brighton Centre has a long history of hosting events that represent a diverse mix of communities and perspectives.

‘Individual events represent a wide cross-section of opinions that should not be attributed to those of the attendees, audience or venue staff but are reflective of a democratic society.

‘It is not our intention to create division but to host a range of conferences, that meets the needs of all people in the area.

‘As a conference venue we seek to provide a neutral space for hire and always seek to ensure we do not show bias to any group or individual but that we protect the principles of freedom of speech, as long as all our booked events operate within the law and in line with our venue hire policy.’