A women’s rights activist was kicked out of a bar in Glasgow last night, reportedly because she “looked like a TERF.” Jenny Watson says she was surrounded by trans activists and forced out of the bar after silently recording a drag queen insulting Harry Potter creator JK Rowling and other women who are critical of gender ideology.
Following the incident, Watson took to her X account to explain that she had been sitting silently and recording a drag performer at the Polo Lounge in Glasgow as he made derogatory remarks about women he classified as “TERFs.” While the acronym means “trans-exclusionary radical feminists,” it has been applied more broadly to any woman critical of gender ideology, and is often used alongside threats of violence.
“For the first time in my life, I have just got chucked out of a gay bar,” Watson said in a series of videos she shared. “There was a drag act… I took a video of him saying that there’s going to be ‘a thousand TERFs’ in Glasgow tomorrow… we hate the TERFs.'”
Watson described how she was swiftly challenged by the crowd when she began filming the drag performer as he made statements against “the TERFs.”
“Everybody surrounded me, and they were [saying], ‘You look like a TERF, you shouldn’t be here. This isn’t the right place for you.’ I was literally just there, sitting with my drink. I was not being rude, doing anything… and they were telling me, ‘You look like a fucking loser.’ Then the bouncers came over.”
In another video clip of the incident Watson shared on X, drag and burlesque performer Tom Harlow can be seen standing on stage naming women’s rights campaigners such as JK Rowling, Julie Bindel, and Member of Parliament Joanna Cherry, all of whom have vocally opposed sex self-identification policies which allow men to be legally designated as “female” without restrictions.
“Joanna Cherry, Julie Bindel, and JK Rowling are all meant to be speaking this weekend,” Harlow says, while audience members react with disgust. Harlow then informs the crowd that Glasgow Trans Rally had organized a counter-protest outside of the venue scheduled for the following day. He adds that he intends to attend the demonstration to “sing show tunes at bigots,” and says, “We fucking hate you, Joanna,” while miming a punch with a clenched fist.
Harlow’s statement was a reference to the women’s rights conference known as FiLiA, a two-day event being held over the weekend. FiLiA was launched in 2013 with the purpose of “strengthening the Women’s Liberation Movement” and upholding women’s sex-based rights, including the right to female-only spaces and protection from male violence.
Trans activists had attempted to have the conference shut down in the days leading up to the event. Glasgow Trans Rally encouraged their supporters to target the venue and harass event organizers on social media. Two days before the conference, the venue’s management attempted to cancel FiLiA’s reservation, but backed down after being told they should expect a legal challenge if they followed through.
Watson continued to explain that one of the bouncers who had her removed from Polo Lounge informed her that the staff were taking “extra precautions” due to the FiLiA conference.
“I had no idea who this drag artist was,” she says, incredulous. “Then I got a few messages from people saying, ‘The person you’re recording is unhinged.'”
Watson continued in a statement: “The Polo Glasgow is unsafe for lesbians. If you are a lesbian do not go there, especially alone, you will be put at risk. You will be told that ‘you look like a pathetic loser for going alone.’ You will be surrounded by a mob and then the bouncers will kick you out, simply for having a drink and recording (as one does) part of a drag act.”
Watson explains that she had been approached by groups of people who “recognized” her from social media, and were clearly looking for a hostile exchange.
“I engaged civilly with them, yet still I was the one who was kicked out. I repeat – this establishment is dangerous for lesbians. This is new homophobia and lesbians are at the bottom of the hierarchy.”
Watson has been the target of abuse in the past due to her experience speaking out for the rights of lesbian women to hold single-sex events. Earlier this year, she came under fire after voicing frustration with the trans-identified males claiming to be lesbians who were attending weekly lesbian speed dating evenings she organized in London.
Watson described to journalist Julie Bindel how one trans-identified man pushed himself against a lesbian in the restroom.
Another was seen sporting a visible erection while wearing purple spandex. Several trans activists created a WhatsApp group in order to coordinate their attempts to have her lesbian-only events shut down by urging participants to complain to venue staff. She has also been reported to her London council employers as “transphobic” for insisting that “lesbians don’t have penises.”
As he stated he would, Harlow turned up outside of the FiLiA conference with a small crowd of protesters, where he has been recorded shouting “fuck you” at the women in attendance.
In a brief biography of Harlow provided to Miss Burlesque Scotland, a competition for which he has performed and competed, Harlow is described as “an international and award-winning showboy” known for his “classic stripteases with a male twist, bump & grind as well as his unique vocal blend of showtunes & FILTH!”
Harlow previously drew criticism in July after Glasgow museum The Burrell Collection hosted an all-ages LGBT event where Harlow performed. The museum hit back at critics by stating, “The Burrell Collection is an inclusive, welcoming museum and the Pride event celebrates this. Tom Harlow is performing classic cabaret and giving insight into the art of performance make-up in a set for all ages.”
Harlow’s website features photos and purchasable prints of himself naked. As previously reported by Reduxx, Harlow has performed as a merman in an adult strip show called “The Salty Seaman”. He would later adapt the character to be aimed at children.
Last fall, a cabaret performance by Harlow intended for children under 12 was cancelled following public outcry.
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