Boldly Sounding Off: Conservative Activists Face Backlash in Europe over Child Transgender Rights Protest
"Chris Billboard expresses displeasure following arrest in alleged 'most progressive city' due to his stance against transgender interventions for minors."
"Billboard Chris" and ADF International's Lois McLatchie Miller spoke to our website Digital after they faced arrest in Brussels for voicing their dissent against child gender treatments.
In a striking display, conservative activists Chris Elston, known as "Billboard Chris," and ADF International's Lois McLatchie Miller, found themselves in hot water in Europe's capital after voicing their opinions against transgender medical treatments for children.
Recently, the duo stood in the heart of Brussels, wielding signs that read, "Children are never born in the wrong body" and "Children cannot consent to puberty blockers." Their peaceful demonstration, aimed at raising awareness and fostering debate, turned sour when they were arrested and subjected to police questioning.
Elston, a globetrotter who vocalizes his opinions against transgender medical care for children, had expected opposition in Brussels, though not to this extent. "Never have I witnessed such animosity concentration as that in Brussels," Elston recounted to our website Digital. "Everywhere we went, we were met with hostility."
One particularly harrowing moment occurred when Elston was hit by a flying bottle which shattered nearby, Isarah Safari, a five-year-old girl, narrowly missing her. The demonstrators, fearing potential conflict with Antifa, sought police protection, only to be told to remove their signs or face arrest.
After continuing their display, McLatchie Miller was targeted by one persistent individual, leading them to call the authorities. Rather than providing protection, however, they were apprehended, strip-searched, and had their signs confiscated, before being released without charge hours later.
Both Elston and McLatchie Miller were in the city to discuss policy concerns with European Parliament members and share their message.
The episode has sparked outrage from free speech advocates who look upon the incident as a clear violation of their rights in Europe.
In an unexpected turn, it was McLatchie Miller—who usually fights for the voice of her ADF International clients as their speech is suppressed by local authorities—who found herself at the receiving end of such suppression.
"I didn't expect this level of aggression in Brussels," McLatchie Miller shared with our website Digital. "For us to be arrested when we are fighting for the very rights we believe in, is bewildering."
The Global Crackdown on Free Speech – An Amplifying Alarm
VP JD Vance recently sounded the alarm about the widespread threat to free speech in Europe that has gained momentum in recent years, citing the case of British army veteran Adam Smith-Connor, who was arrested for silently praying in an abortion clinic buffer zone.
Vance's sentiments were echoed by MEPs and human rights organizations, who view these events as eroding freedom of expression, particularly in sensitive areas like gender identity and child healthcare.
With a growing number of European countries limiting or banning puberty blockers for children with gender dysphoria, and child transgender rights becoming an increasingly contentious topic, conservative activists fear a chilling effect on open discourse.
Europe has seen a rise in legislation, such as the Digital Services Act (DSA), that aims to protect against illegal and harmful speech but faces criticism for relying on social media platforms to enforce these regulations, potentially leading to overzealous enforcement and the suppression of free speech.
Under the DSA, controversial discussions like gender identity may fall victim to subjective enforcement, turning into collateral damage in the attempt to foster a safer online space.
The Roar of the Silent Majority
Elston believes that the restrictive measures Europe has taken toward child transitioning issues are meeting growing opposition worldwide.
"We're gaining momentum every day, all over the globe," Elston said, citing countries like Finland, Denmark, and the United Kingdom as examples where there is now a shift away from encouraging the use of puberty blockers for children experiencing gender dysphoria.
Elston argues that his message resonates with people from all corners of the political spectrum and is a significant factor that influenced voting patterns in the 2024 elections. "This was the number one issue in the U.S. election that caused swing voters to vote for President Donald Trump," he said.
*FEAR THE SILENCE, SPEAK UP NOW*
Read more about conservative activists' battle for free speech in Europe on our website.
our website' Gabriel Hays contributed to this report.
Kristine Parks is a reporter for our website Digital.
- Conservative activists in Europe, like "Billboard Chris" and Lois McLatchie Miller, are facing backlash for expressing their opinions against child gender treatments, including being arrested and subjected to police questioning.
- The incident in Brussels has sparked outrage among free speech advocates, who view it as a violation of their rights, especially in the context of the growing crackdown on free speech in Europe.
- VP JD Vance recently sounded the alarm about the threat to free speech in Europe, citing cases like that of British army veteran Adam Smith-Connor, who was arrested for silently praying in an abortion clinic buffer zone.
- The Digital Services Act (DSA) aims to protect against harmful speech but faces criticism for relying on social media platforms to enforce regulations, potentially leading to overzealous enforcement and the suppression of free speech.
- "Billboard Chris" believes that the restrictive measures Europe has taken towards child transitioning issues are meeting increasing opposition worldwide and have become a significant factor in voting patterns, such as influencing voters to vote for President Donald Trump in the 2024 elections.
