this post was submitted on 11 Oct 2024
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UK Politics

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LONDON, 11 October 2024, 3:50 PM—6 young trans activists infiltrated the LGB Alliance’s annual conference at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Hall in Westminster, some of whom fled quickly after while others were held by security for a period before being let go. They did so with intentions of ending the conference early, which they describe as a horrendous breeding ground for fervent and violent transphobia.

The group released approximately 6,000 crickets from bags hidden on their persons which they snuck through security just before a talk on the “dangers” of medical transition. They made sure to spread the crickets (which do not infest and pose no danger to humans) across the entire hall, in order to ensure the conference could be safely brought to an end. The speech was postponed and later speeches were cancelled. They filmed some of the earlier speeches using hidden cameras in order to “expose the fact that this group really has no interest whatsoever in promoting the rights of cis LGB people, and exists entirely to hurt the trans community as much as they possibly can”. Speakers at the anti-trans event told the audience to “Squash them, kill them, kill the buggers!”

One bug carrier said they’ve “been feeling physically ill with nerves, mentally cycling through all the possibilities and worst case scenarios, a thousand times over. I’m scared. But I fear more for the outcomes if we don’t go through with this action.”

The LGB Alliance claims to stand for the rights of lesbians, bisexuals, and gay men, but a challenge from Mermaids and the Good Law Project against their charitable status objects that they “dedicate most of their output to denigrating trans people”. The crick-kids say that “the LGB Alliance’s hate and cruelty resonates out into the political sphere”. They believe the result of the conference, if it had gone ahead as planned, would have been an acceleration of transphobic hate and misinformation, which drives much of the attack on their healthcare and dignity in all other parts of their lives.

Speaking hours before entering the conference:

“It makes me really angry to see trans kids being talked about like a bunch of brainless children who can’t make decisions for or speak for themselves. I’m sick of having our voices taken away by bigoted people like the LGBA who speak over us instead of listening.”

“Whilst we, the trans community, cobble together what little support we can to keep each other safe, this group claiming to stand for social progress spends hundreds of thousands of pounds annually to keep us down. We are trans kids, we are loved, and we deserve dignity.”

“They may try to ‘sound the alarm’ on trans youth accessing life-saving healthcare but we cannot and will not let them. Trans youth are powerful and we will let them fucking know it.”

All trans youth apprehended by attendees have been released and returned safely home.

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[–] Regrettable_incident@lemmy.world 50 points 3 days ago (3 children)

Successful non-violent direct action, good for them.

[–] GreenAppleTree@lemmy.world 38 points 3 days ago

What a great modern take on the US Intelligence 1944 sabotage field manual

Anyone can break up a showing of an enemy propaganda film by putting two or three dozen large moths in a paper bag. Take the bag to the movies with you, put it on the floor in an empty section of the theater as you go in and leave it open. The moths will fly out and climb into the projector beam, so that the film will be obscured by fluttering shadows.

[–] match@pawb.social 6 points 3 days ago

This is advanced pacifism

[–] Katrisia@lemm.ee 0 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I consider this violent, especially for the crickets who are being used as objects and exposed to danger (as the article confirms with the guy shouting to 'squash' them).

[–] als@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 7 hours ago

I'm all for animal rights and veganism but let's put this in the perspective where you can buy a whole frozen chicken for a few quid due to how industrialised the creation and distruction of life is. In a world where that is the norm and random bigots are trying to take away autonomy from kids who are already having an awful time, this feels appropriate to me. While I'd probably have preferred if it didn't involve crickets and was a stinkbomb instead, I think a biblical plague does have an undeniable flair to it.

[–] AFC1886VCC@reddthat.com 112 points 4 days ago

A bad day for hate groups is a good day for everyone else.

[–] Alpha71@lemmy.world 38 points 3 days ago

At what point in your life, does someone ,who your never going to meet or even know exists, makes you wake up every day going "I must crush these people!"

And they say Trans people are mentally ill..

[–] milkisklim@lemm.ee 84 points 4 days ago (2 children)

From now on, this is how I assume one plays cricket.

[–] Dragonstaff@leminal.space 24 points 4 days ago

The Indian subcontinent shaking and crying right now.

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[–] ech@lemm.ee 78 points 4 days ago

“Squash them, kill them, kill the buggers!” a speaker urged the audience.

Sure, but what did they say about the crickets?

[–] Skydancer@pawb.social 27 points 3 days ago

Speakers at a supposedly gay friendly event are calling on their audience to "kill the buggers" says all you need to know about the group.

[–] oce@jlai.lu 64 points 4 days ago

Reaction in the conference room:
crickets

[–] HawlSera@lemm.ee 8 points 3 days ago
[–] metaStatic@kbin.earth 56 points 4 days ago (3 children)

I have so many questions. Primarily where does one procure 6000 crickets and do they offer lay away.

[–] Okokimup@lemmy.world 74 points 4 days ago

Probably companies that supply live food for reptiles. Possibly bait shops.

[–] hoanbridgetroll@midwest.social 41 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (2 children)

Apparently at Critter Depot, if you’re stateside. 2,000 crickets for $54. Subscription discounts available.

https://www.thecritterdepot.com/

[–] vxx@lemmy.world 22 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Do they offer blood rain as well?

Asking for a friend.

[–] Mango@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago

Can they do delivery via chasm in the sky?

I'm the friend.

[–] Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works 11 points 3 days ago (1 children)

You can get 10k crickets for $180 at reptilesncritters.com much better deal.

[–] match@pawb.social 3 points 3 days ago

How about ten million fireflies?

[–] CarbonIceDragon@pawb.social 25 points 4 days ago (9 children)

Looking at the website for company I order mealworms from when my colony hasnt bred enough of them for gecko food, a box of 1000 crickets is like, a bit over 20 bucks, not counting shipping. So assuming the UK has a similar business somewhere with roughly equivalent prices, 6000 is like a couple hundred bucks worth of crickets, or less. Not cheap but honestly not terribly expensive for such a huge number of insects, probably wouldnt even need the layaway

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[–] thelsim@sh.itjust.works 36 points 4 days ago

Wow, I really admire their bravery. That must’ve been terrifying to attend.

[–] Lemjukes@lemm.ee 47 points 4 days ago

Pretty punk rock

[–] Zachariah@lemmy.world 53 points 4 days ago

I hope it really bugged them.

[–] IvanOverdrive@lemm.ee 23 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Stop burying the lede! How does one keep a bunch of crickets quiet in the dark?

[–] match@pawb.social 9 points 3 days ago (1 children)
[–] IvanOverdrive@lemm.ee 1 points 2 days ago

That's sounds like it would be heavy.

[–] Catoblepas@lemmy.blahaj.zone 53 points 4 days ago
[–] ethd@beehaw.org 44 points 4 days ago

The kids are alright

[–] TotallyNotSpezUpload@startrek.website 34 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

The heroes we need, but don't deserve! Mad respect.

[–] ohwhatfollyisman@lemmy.world 16 points 4 days ago

clever. commentators on the event can't use the "that's not cricket" line.

[–] jama211@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago
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