Trans feud raises spectre of Victorian Greens’ expulsion from national party

A leaked memo claimed national council was “prepared to begin the process of expelling the Victorian Greens” if Adam Bandt’s branch didn’t show it was taking the issue seriously.

It’s the latest flare-up in a months-long contest over trans rights within the Victorian Greens that has been reflected in NSW. It comes against the backdrop of shifting attitudes about trans rights that have created tensions inside political parties, sporting bodies and universities.

Prominent Greens members, including Melbourne city councillor Rohan Leppert and Linda Gale, have expressed worries about the party’s policies. Gale has raised concerns about the policy implications for the rights of non-trans women in sport, intimate medical procedures, domestic violence shelters, hospital wards and prisons. Her election this year as Victorian Greens convenor was overturned amid a social media-driven backlash.

When asked about Jordan’s internal memo, Gale said she was surprised someone had put in the public arena. “I think these issues should be dealt with internally,” she said.

Multiple Greens sources, speaking anonymously to discuss internal party matters, said the national council’s discussion of expulsion demonstrated a level political naivety within the party. Several Greens members said there was a significant group of rank-and-file members uncomfortable with attempts to censor what they claimed was legitimate policy debate about trans issues.

The message from Jordan said interstate Greens bodies wanted the Victorian Greens to address the impact of the so-called “#TERFsupper” and its impact on morale. TERF stands for trans-exclusionary radical feminist.

Source: Trans feud raises spectre of Victorian Greens’ expulsion from national party