Mick Hartley

Another woman fighting back:

An artist was allegedly told she needed to give 24 hours’ notice to attend her own exhibition and reported to the police, after saying she believed it was harmful for children to try to change sex.

Victoria Culf, 43, was setting up her independently funded exhibition at Watford Museum when a borough council employee began talking to her about transgender issues.

Culf claimed she politely revealed that, because of her beliefs and her experience with children and young people, she believed transitioning them was harmful.

She added to the employee that the NHS Gender Identity Development Service at the Tavistock Centre, which has been criticised for its treatment of children with gender dysphoria, should be shut down. It is closing at the end of this month.

Culf said that after the conversation she received a call from the council telling her of “harassment” allegations and saying she could not enter the exhibition without 24 hours’ notice.

She was allegedly told police were investigating her for a “hate crime” and that she needed to prepare a statement, but Hertfordshire police later judged no crime had been committed….

Culf, who is now taking legal action against the council, said yesterday: “I was afraid that the police were going to turn up on my doorstep at any moment and arrest me in front of my children.

“It was just complete madness to me. The conversation I had was calm and considered.

“During my work and life experience I have experienced children and young people regretting all sorts of decisions and continually changing their minds as they grow and develop.

“We are now living in a culture where just expressing opposition to transgender ideology, even politely, can lead to you being reported to the police.”…

Culf is seeking damages, a written apology, and for restrictions on her going to the museum to be lifted. She will also ask that a retraction of the allegations made be given to all parties, and that the council pledge that nothing like this will happen again.

No date has been set for a hearing.

Culf added: “I am aware that me speaking out could be ‘commercial suicide’, but I am not prepared to be silent on these issues and I don’t want this to happen to anyone else.”