Police Investigate Source of Anti-Transgender Propaganda

In a significant development, Western Australia’s State Security Investigation Group Hate Crime Team has launched an investigation into a series of criminal damage incidents in Subiaco where anti-transgender stickers have been placed throughout public areas. The incidents, occurring around Wednesday, December 10, 2025, have prompted a strong response from law enforcement.

“The WA Police Force will not allow acts of hatred, intolerance, or discrimination to go unchecked. We have zero tolerance for hate in our community and will use every resource at our disposal to protect the public and bring offenders to justice. Those responsible will be held to account,” police stated in an official social media post.

The offensive stickers, bearing the message “Trans women are real men,” have been found concentrated around the Subiaco Library, a neighboring primary school, and a nearby park. City officials report this is not an isolated incident, with contractors for the City of Subiaco removing the stickers on 38 separate occasions since July 2025 alone. Similar vandalism has also been reported in other inner-city locations.

Local residents have shown resistance to the hateful messaging. When local media visited the area earlier this year, they found that community members had modified some of the stickers to transform them into messages of acceptance and support for transgender individuals—a grassroots response to counter the hateful rhetoric.

The targeting of areas frequented by children has raised particular concern. Sam Gibbings, CEO of Transfolk WA, questioned the motivations behind placing such messaging in spaces predominantly used by young families.

“It makes you wonder what they are actually trying to achieve. Are they trying to berate parents? Are they trying to scare children? Either way, when you resort to tactics like this in a playground, you have clearly lost the moral argument,” Gibbings told Perth Now in a recent interview.

“Most Western Australians want our suburbs to be welcoming, tidy, and safe. Stickers like these achieve none of that,” she added. “Messages like these are designed to create division. They try to import a loud, aggressive culture war style of politics that doesn’t reflect how most of us actually interact in real life.”

The incidents come at a time of heightened national discussion around transgender rights in Australia. While the country has made significant legislative progress in protecting LGBTQ+ rights in recent years, transgender individuals continue to face disproportionate rates of discrimination and harassment in public spaces. Advocacy groups have long warned that anti-transgender rhetoric can lead to real-world harassment and violence against an already marginalized community.

Despite the distress caused by these incidents, Gibbings emphasized the resilience of the transgender community in Western Australia.

“While they are loud, they are the minority. We know most people in Australia believe in treating others with dignity and respect, and we need to call out this hateful behavior,” she said.

Gibbings also pointed to recent community celebrations as evidence of broader support. “I think it’s important not to let vandalism be the only headline. While these stickers are ugly, we are a resilient bunch. We just celebrated PrideFEST where thousands turned out to support us. A few stickers in a park can’t compete with that level of genuine community love.”

The formation of the State Security Investigation Group Hate Crime Team reflects Western Australia’s increasing commitment to addressing hate-motivated crimes. The specialized unit was created specifically to investigate incidents targeting individuals based on their identity, including race, religion, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

WA Police are urging the public to assist with their investigation. “If you see any suspicious behavior—particularly around bus stops, signage, or the library precinct—or have information that could assist, please report it to Crime Stoppers online at www.crimestopperswa.com.au or call 1800 333 000. Reports can be made anonymously,” the police statement concluded.