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{{PageSeo | description = TERF is a slur used by transgender activists to debase anyone who criticizes their movement on the basis of feminist concerns. }}
[[File:Terf-slur-01.png|thumb|300px|A typical tweet containing "terf"]]
[[File:Terf-slur-01.png|thumb|300px|A typical tweet containing "terf"]]


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In June 2017, transgender activist Mya Byrne came to the San Francisco Pride Parade with a t-shirt reading "I PUNCH TERFS", decorated with a large fake blood-stain.  Byrne uploaded a selfie of him wearing the t-shirt at the parade, captioned "This is what gay liberation looks like #pride #yesallterfs" which sparked many negative reactions.  The t-shirt would later be displayed at an "art exhibit" at the San Francisco Public Library, set up by the trans activist group ''The Degenderettes''.  After complaints, the library removed the t-shirt from the exhibition, though similar items showcasing a violent mentality remained, such as baseball bats wrapped in barbed wire and painted in the colors of the transgender pride flag.<ref name=degenderettes/>
In June 2017, transgender activist Mya Byrne came to the San Francisco Pride Parade with a t-shirt reading "I PUNCH TERFS", decorated with a large fake blood-stain.  Byrne uploaded a selfie of him wearing the t-shirt at the parade, captioned "This is what gay liberation looks like #pride #yesallterfs" which sparked many negative reactions.  The t-shirt would later be displayed at an "art exhibit" at the San Francisco Public Library, set up by the trans activist group ''The Degenderettes''.  After complaints, the library removed the t-shirt from the exhibition, though similar items showcasing a violent mentality remained, such as baseball bats wrapped in barbed wire and painted in the colors of the transgender pride flag.<ref name=degenderettes/>


{{clear}}
<gallery caption="Some examples of tweets using 'terf'" perrow=3 widths=400px heights=200px>
File:Terf-gallery-1.png | "terf isn't a slur ... terfs don't deserve rights"
File:Terf-gallery-2.jpg | "All terfs will be arrested on sight"
File:Terf-gallery-3.jpg | "It's [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_pride#LGBT_Pride_Month Pride] punch a terf"
File:Terf-gallery-4.png | Putting "terfs" right aside "nazis"
File:Terf-gallery-5.png | Arthur Chu supporting incitement of hatred against women if they're deemed to be a "TERF"
File:Terf-gallery-6.png | "Being a TERF is a choice.  Like being a Nazi."
</gallery>


=== Vandalism and assaults ===
=== Vandalism and assaults ===
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In September 2017, a group of feminists wanted to hold a meeting to discuss proposed changes to the [https://www.feministcurrent.com/2018/09/14/never-mind-reforming-gender-recognition-act-theres-no-need-gender-recognition-certificates/ Gender Recognition Act] (GRA) in the [https://newxlearning.org/ New Cross Learning] community Library in London.  The library had to cancel the event after harassment by transgender activists.  The organizers of the meeting decided to meet at Speaker's Corner, before going to the newly chosen meeting place, which was not announced to protect it from harassment.  In Speaker's Corner, they were met with a group of transgender activists shouting slogans, notably "when TERFs attack, we fight back."  Maria MacLachlan, who was filming the protesters with her digital camera, was attacked by someone running out of the trans activist group, who then tried to grab her camera.  As the unsuccessful attacker ran back behind his friends, MacLachlan tried to get closer to the group to get his face on camera.  Several of the activists started assaulting her in that moment.  One of the attackers, later revealed to be Tara Wolf, was ultimately charged with assault by beating.  Prior to the event, he had posted that he wants to "f*ck up some terfs" on social media.  The event could be considered a cornerstone in the escalating hatred transgender activists show against feminists, as no such clearly documented assault in relation to the slur "TERF" existed before, and the event gained widespread attention in the news, being covered by The Guardian,<ref name=guardian/> The New Statesman,<ref name=statesman1/><ref name=statesman2/> The Telegraph,<ref name=telegraph/> The Times,<ref name=times1/><ref name=times2/> The Evening Standard,<ref name=standard/> and The Daily Mail.<ref name=dailymail/>  Of course, it was also covered by Feminist Current.<ref name=fc1/><ref name=fc2/>  In the aftermath of the event, many transgender activists online defended or even celebrated the assault, leading Meghan Murphy to publish the piece [https://www.feministcurrent.com/2017/09/21/terf-isnt-slur-hate-speech/ '' 'TERF' isn't just a slur, it's hate speech''].  Some publications in support of transgender activists have tried to claim that the assailant was really acting in self-defense, and tried to prove this claim by uploading carefully edited cuts of the recording showing the assault,<ref name=planettrans/> or by framing the assault as "standing up to bullies" who "provoke" transgender activists (by having opinions they don't like, we have to presume).<ref name=queerness/>
In September 2017, a group of feminists wanted to hold a meeting to discuss proposed changes to the [https://www.feministcurrent.com/2018/09/14/never-mind-reforming-gender-recognition-act-theres-no-need-gender-recognition-certificates/ Gender Recognition Act] (GRA) in the [https://newxlearning.org/ New Cross Learning] community Library in London.  The library had to cancel the event after harassment by transgender activists.  The organizers of the meeting decided to meet at Speaker's Corner, before going to the newly chosen meeting place, which was not announced to protect it from harassment.  In Speaker's Corner, they were met with a group of transgender activists shouting slogans, notably "when TERFs attack, we fight back."  Maria MacLachlan, who was filming the protesters with her digital camera, was attacked by someone running out of the trans activist group, who then tried to grab her camera.  As the unsuccessful attacker ran back behind his friends, MacLachlan tried to get closer to the group to get his face on camera.  Several of the activists started assaulting her in that moment.  One of the attackers, later revealed to be Tara Wolf, was ultimately charged with assault by beating.  Prior to the event, he had posted that he wants to "f*ck up some terfs" on social media.  The event could be considered a cornerstone in the escalating hatred transgender activists show against feminists, as no such clearly documented assault in relation to the slur "TERF" existed before, and the event gained widespread attention in the news, being covered by The Guardian,<ref name=guardian/> The New Statesman,<ref name=statesman1/><ref name=statesman2/> The Telegraph,<ref name=telegraph/> The Times,<ref name=times1/><ref name=times2/> The Evening Standard,<ref name=standard/> and The Daily Mail.<ref name=dailymail/>  Of course, it was also covered by Feminist Current.<ref name=fc1/><ref name=fc2/>  In the aftermath of the event, many transgender activists online defended or even celebrated the assault, leading Meghan Murphy to publish the piece [https://www.feministcurrent.com/2017/09/21/terf-isnt-slur-hate-speech/ '' 'TERF' isn't just a slur, it's hate speech''].  Some publications in support of transgender activists have tried to claim that the assailant was really acting in self-defense, and tried to prove this claim by uploading carefully edited cuts of the recording showing the assault,<ref name=planettrans/> or by framing the assault as "standing up to bullies" who "provoke" transgender activists (by having opinions they don't like, we have to presume).<ref name=queerness/>
In December 2018, human rights lawyer Prof. [[Rosa Freedman]] found her office door covered in urine after attending debates surrounding proposed changes to the UK's Gender Recognition Act.  She also reported being called a "Nazi" (she is Jewish) who "should be raped" (she is a survivor of sexual violence) and receiving abusive anonymous phone calls.<ref name=freedman/>


In 2018, transgender activist Dana Rivers was on trial for triple murder.<ref name=rivers/>  The victims were a lesbian couple and their adoptive son.  Rivers stabbed and shot the victims, before trying to set their house on fire, in November 2016.  It remains unclear whether Rivers was motivated by the hatred against feminists and lesbians promulgated by transgender activists.  Rivers was, however, a member of the group [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_Trans Camp Trans], which was created to protest the women-only rule of the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival (aka MichFest).<ref name=camptrans/>  Autostraddle described Rivers as a "very well-known transgender activist."<ref name=autostraddle/>
In 2018, transgender activist Dana Rivers was on trial for triple murder.<ref name=rivers/>  The victims were a lesbian couple and their adoptive son.  Rivers stabbed and shot the victims, before trying to set their house on fire, in November 2016.  It remains unclear whether Rivers was motivated by the hatred against feminists and lesbians promulgated by transgender activists.  Rivers was, however, a member of the group [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_Trans Camp Trans], which was created to protest the women-only rule of the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival (aka MichFest).<ref name=camptrans/>  Autostraddle described Rivers as a "very well-known transgender activist."<ref name=autostraddle/>
In June 2019, [[Julie Bindel]] was physically attacked by a trans-identifying male person after holding a keynote speech about male violence against women at the Edinburgh University, together with Prof. Rosa Freedman.<ref name=edinburgh/>  "He was shouting and ranting and raving, 'you're a f***** c***, you're a f****** bitch, a f****** Terf" and the rest of it.  We were trying to walk to the cab to take us to the airport, and then he just lunged at me and almost punched me in the face, but a security guard pulled him away."  The male person, who calls himself "[[Cathy Brennan]]" (after famous lesbian and radical feminist lawyer, whom he despises) had previously stood out on social media for [[:File:Joe-brennan-twitter.jpg|encouraging physical violence]] against feminists at Gay Pride events.


{{clear}}
{{clear}}
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* Exclude them from local, state, national and United Nations protections(!)
* Exclude them from local, state, national and United Nations protections(!)


As such, the women labeled "TERF" are represented less as women who simply want to uphold women's sex-based rights, and more like fascist monsters, which is then used to incite hatred and violence against them.  It's also noteworthy how exclusion of transwomen turns here into exclusion of all trans people (from whatever).  As a matter of fact, women targeted as "TERFs" will frequently say explicitly that they welcome transmen in their groups, since transmen also face the sex-based oppression all women face from birth.
As such, the women labeled "TERF" are represented less as women who simply want to uphold women's sex-based rights, and more like fascist monsters, which is then used to incite hatred and violence against them.  It's also noteworthy how exclusion of transwomen (from female-only spaces etc.) turns here into supposed exclusion of all trans people (from whatever).  As a matter of fact, women targeted as "TERFs" will frequently say explicitly that they welcome transmen in their groups, since transmen also face the sex-based oppression all women face from birth.


The strategy of transgender activists of using simple definitions of "TERF" to make the term look accurate, but then twist the definition to justify hatred, is quite similar to a "troll" strategy that has been noted by philosopher Nicholas Shackel, and dubbed the ''Motte and Bailey Doctrine'' in a paper titled [https://philpapers.org/archive/SHATVO-2.pdf ''The Vacuity of Postmodernist Methodology'']:
The strategy of transgender activists of using simple definitions of "TERF" to make the term look accurate, but then twist the definition to justify hatred, is quite similar to a "troll" strategy that has been noted by philosopher Nicholas Shackel, and dubbed the ''Motte and Bailey Doctrine'' in a paper titled [https://philpapers.org/archive/SHATVO-2.pdf ''The Vacuity of Postmodernist Methodology'']:
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In fact, the people slurred as "SWERF" tend to be supporters of the [[Nordic Model]] against prostitution, which sees a high-quality welfare system as a necessary component in tackling prostitution, and in alleviating problems faced by women who would otherwise choose to do prostitution out of economic desperation.  Further, many of those slurred "SWERF" tend to be women who worked in prostitution themselves.
In fact, the people slurred as "SWERF" tend to be supporters of the [[Nordic Model]] against prostitution, which sees a high-quality welfare system as a necessary component in tackling prostitution, and in alleviating problems faced by women who would otherwise choose to do prostitution out of economic desperation.  Further, many of those slurred "SWERF" tend to be women who worked in prostitution themselves.


Notably, one of the biggest anti-prostitution and anti-pornography feminists [[Andrea Dworkin]] was an ex-prostitute herself, and not ashamed of admitting so.  Another notable example is [[Rachel Moran]], who was in prostitution between the ages of 15 and 22, only to become one of the most notable anti-pornography activists in recent years.
Notably, one of the biggest anti-prostitution and anti-pornography feminists [[Andrea Dworkin]] was an ex-prostitute herself, and not ashamed of admitting so.  Another notable example is [[Rachel Moran]], who was in prostitution between the ages of 15 and 22, only to become one of the most notable anti-prostitution, pro-Nordic Model activists in recent years.
 
== See also ==
 
* [[Transgender ideology]]


== References ==
== References ==


<references>
<references>
<ref name=degenderettes>https://www.feministcurrent.com/2018/05/01/trans-activism-become-centered-justifying-violence-women-time-allies-speak/</ref>
 
<ref name=vwl>https://www.feministcurrent.com/2017/02/07/vancouver-womens-library-opens-amid-anti-feminist-backlash/</ref>
<ref name=degenderettes>
<ref name=guardian>https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/oct/26/woman-punched-in-brawl-between-transgender-activists-and-radical-feminists</ref>
{{cite web
<ref name=statesman1>https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/feminism/2018/04/madness-our-gender-debate-where-feminists-defend-slapping-60-year-old</ref>
|url=https://www.feministcurrent.com/2018/05/01/trans-activism-become-centered-justifying-violence-women-time-allies-speak/
<ref name=statesman2>https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/feminism/2017/09/trans-rights-terfs-and-bruised-60-year-old-what-happened-speakers-corner</ref>
|title=Trans activism is excusing & advocating violence against women, and it’s time to speak up
<ref name=telegraph>https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/04/12/radical-feminist-warned-refer-transgender-defendant-assault/</ref>
|author=Meghan Murphy
<ref name=times1>https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/transgender-activist-denies-thumping-radical-feminist-wvzgq6fx7</ref>
|date=May 1, 2018
<ref name=times2>https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/trans-attacker-tara-wolf-is-a-thug-says-feminist-maria-maclachlan-pq0bwvthv</ref>
|website=Feminist Current
<ref name=standard>https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/transgender-activist-tara-wolf-fined-150-for-assaulting-exclusionary-radical-feminist-in-hyde-park-a3813856.html</ref>
}}
<ref name=dailymail>https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5613057/Model-punched-feminist-smashed-120-camera-violent-brawl-walks-free-court.html</ref>
</ref>
<ref name=fc1>https://www.feministcurrent.com/2017/09/15/historic-speakers-corner-becomes-site-anti-feminist-silencing-violence/</ref>
 
<ref name=fc2>https://www.feministcurrent.com/2018/04/27/trans-identified-male-tara-wolf-charged-assault-hyde-park-attack/</ref>
<ref name=vwl>
<ref name=rivers>https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2018/03/07/transgender-activist-trial-oakland-triple-murder/</ref>
{{cite web
<ref name=camptrans>http://eminism.org/michigan/20000812-camptrans.txt</ref>
|url=https://www.feministcurrent.com/2017/02/07/vancouver-womens-library-opens-amid-anti-feminist-backlash/
<ref name=autostraddle>https://www.autostraddle.com/more-bad-news-oakland-lesbian-couple-and-their-son-brutally-murdered-by-former-lgbt-activist-359026/</ref>
|title=Vancouver Women’s Library opens amid anti-feminist backlash
<ref name=planettrans>https://planettransgender.com/when-terf-attack-at-hyde-park/</ref>
|author=Meghan Murphy
<ref name=queerness>https://planettransgender.com/when-terf-attack-at-hyde-park/</ref>
|date=February 7, 2017
<ref name=jamjar>https://twitter.com/magdalenberns/status/988003582250291201</ref>
|website=Feminist Current
<ref name=dhejne>https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0016885 (summary by FPFW: https://fairplayforwomen.com/criminality/)</ref>
}}
<ref name=wpcrime>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_differences_in_crime#Statistics</ref>
</ref>
 
<ref name=guardian>
{{cite web
|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/oct/26/woman-punched-in-brawl-between-transgender-activists-and-radical-feminists
|title=Suspects sought after brawl between transgender activists and radical feminists
|author=Press Association
|date=October 26, 2017
|website=The Guardian
}}
</ref>
 
<ref name=statesman1>
{{cite web
|url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/feminism/2018/04/madness-our-gender-debate-where-feminists-defend-slapping-60-year-old
|title=The madness of our gender debate, where feminists defend slapping a 60-year-old woman
|author=Helen Lewis
|date=April 20, 2018
|website=NewStatesman
}}
</ref>
 
<ref name=statesman2>
{{cite web
|url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/feminism/2017/09/trans-rights-terfs-and-bruised-60-year-old-what-happened-speakers-corner
|title=Trans rights, TERFs, and a bruised 60-year-old: what happened at Speakers’ Corner?
|author=Anoosh Chakelian
|date=September 14, 2017
|website=NewStatesman
}}
</ref>
 
<ref name=telegraph>
{{cite web
|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/04/12/radical-feminist-warned-refer-transgender-defendant-assault/
|title=Radical feminist warned to refer to transgender defendant as a 'she' during assault case
|author=Victoria Ward
|date=April 12, 2018
|website=The Telegraph
}}
</ref>
 
<ref name=times1>
{{cite web
|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/transgender-activist-denies-thumping-radical-feminist-wvzgq6fx7
|title=Transgender activist Tara Wolf denies thumping radical feminist
|author=Lucy Bannerman
|date=April 12, 2018
|website=The Times
}}
</ref>
 
<ref name=times2>
{{cite web
|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/trans-attacker-tara-wolf-is-a-thug-says-feminist-maria-maclachlan-pq0bwvthv
|title=Trans attacker is a thug, says feminist
|author=Lucy Bannerman
|date=April 14, 2018
|website=The Times
}}
</ref>
 
<ref name=standard>
{{cite web
|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/transgender-activist-tara-wolf-fined-150-for-assaulting-exclusionary-radical-feminist-in-hyde-park-a3813856.html
|title=Transgender activist Tara Wolf fined £150 for assaulting 'exclusionary' radical feminist in Hyde Park
|author=Martin Coulter
|date=April 13, 2018
|website=EveningStandard
}}
</ref>
 
<ref name=dailymail>
{{cite web
|url=https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5613057/Model-punched-feminist-smashed-120-camera-violent-brawl-walks-free-court.html
|title=Transgender model who punched feminist and smashed her £120 camera in violent brawl at Hyde Park Speakers' Corner protest walks free from court
|author=Bridie Pearson-jones
|date=April 13, 2018
|website=MailOnline
}}
</ref>
 
<ref name=fc1>
{{cite web
|url=https://www.feministcurrent.com/2017/09/15/historic-speakers-corner-becomes-site-anti-feminist-silencing-violence/
|title=Historic Speaker’s Corner becomes site of anti-feminist silencing and violence
|author=Meghan Murphy
|date=September 15, 2017
|website=Feminist Current
}}
</ref>
 
<ref name=fc2>
{{cite web
|url=https://www.feministcurrent.com/2018/04/27/trans-identified-male-tara-wolf-charged-assault-hyde-park-attack/
|title=Trans-identified male, Tara Wolf, convicted of assault after Hyde Park attack
|author=Jen Izaakson
|date=April 27, 2018
|website=Feminist Current
}}
</ref>
 
<ref name=rivers>
{{cite web
|url=https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2018/03/07/transgender-activist-trial-oakland-triple-murder/
|title=Transgender Activist Ordered To Stand Trial For Oakland Triple Murder
|date=March 7, 2018
|website=CBS SF BayArea
}}
</ref>
 
<ref name=camptrans>
{{cite web
|url=http://eminism.org/michigan/20000812-camptrans.txt
|title='MICHIGAN EIGHT' EVICTED OVER FESTIVAL'S NEW 'DON'T ASK DON'T TELL' GENDER POLICY
|date=August 12, 2000
}}
</ref>
 
<ref name=autostraddle>
{{cite web
|url=https://www.autostraddle.com/more-bad-news-oakland-lesbian-couple-and-their-son-brutally-murdered-by-former-lgbt-activist-359026/
|title=Oakland Lesbian Couple and Their Son Murdered By Former LGBT Activist
|author=Riese
|date=November 16, 2016
|website=Autostraddle
}}
</ref>
 
<ref name=edinburgh>
{{cite web
|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/crime/feminist-speaker-julie-bindel-attacked-by-transgender-person-at-edinburgh-university-after-talk-1-4942260
|title=Feminist speaker Julie Bindel 'attacked by transgender person' at Edinburgh University after talk
|author=Gina Davidson
|date=June 6, 2019
|website=The Scotsman
}}
</ref>
 
<ref name=planettrans>
{{cite web
|url=https://planettransgender.com/when-terf-attack-at-hyde-park/
|title=Trans Activists Vilified For Defense against TERF Attack at Hyde Park
|author=Kelli Busey
|date=September 18, 2017
|website=Planet Transgender
}}
</ref>
 
<ref name=queerness>
{{cite web
|url=https://thequeerness.com/2017/09/29/trial-by-media-over-speakers-corner-fracas/
|title=Trial by media over Speakers’ Corner fracas
|author=Sam Hope
|date=September 29, 2017
|website=The Queerness
}}
</ref>
 
<ref name=jamjar>
{{cite web
|url=https://twitter.com/magdalenberns/status/988003582250291201
|title=Masked transactivists surround woman on stairwell
|author=Magdalen Berns
|date=April 22, 2018
|website=Twitter
}}
</ref>
 
<ref name=dhejne>
{{cite web
|url=https://fairplayforwomen.com/criminality/
|title=Study suggests that transwomen exhibit a male pattern of criminality
|date=September 8, 2018
|website=Fair Play For Women
}}
</ref>
 
<ref name=wpcrime>
{{cite web
|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_differences_in_crime#Statistics
|title=Sex differences in crime
|website=Wikipedia
|access-date=May 31, 2019
}}
</ref>
 
<ref name=freedman>
{{cite web
|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-berkshire-46454454
|title=Rosa Freedman: Professor's door 'covered in urine' after gender law debate
|date=December 5, 2018
|website=BBC News
}}
</ref>
 
</references>
</references>


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* [https://speakupforwomen.nz/dont-call-women-terfs/ Don't Call Women 'Terfs' | Speak Up for Women NZ]
* [https://speakupforwomen.nz/dont-call-women-terfs/ Don't Call Women 'Terfs' | Speak Up for Women NZ]
* [https://medium.com/@amydyess83/terf-is-hate-speech-and-its-time-to-condemn-it-6efc897ce407 TERF Is Hate Speech and It’s Time to Condemn It]
* [https://medium.com/@amydyess83/terf-is-hate-speech-and-its-time-to-condemn-it-6efc897ce407 TERF Is Hate Speech and It’s Time to Condemn It]
{{#seo:
|title=TERF - FeministWiki
|keywords=feminist feminism wiki feministwiki feminismwiki terf trans
|description=TERF is a slur used by transgender activists to debase anyone who criticizes their movement on the basis of feminist concerns
|twitter:card=summary
|twitter:site=@FeministWiki
|twitter:image:src=https://feministwiki.org/w/resources/assets/wiki.png
|google-site-verification=RZf8hzu0sR32H9OsEXa3-aN3LzE4T2nLPg1s9SrJgJI
}}
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