Win for street preacher as ‘misgendering’ conviction overturned
from Christian Concern:
A judge has overturned the conviction of a Christian street preacher who was arrested and reported to Prevent for ‘misgendering’ a member of the public.
Supported by the Christian Legal Centre, Dave McConnell, 42, from Wakefield, was appealing a conviction today at Leeds Crown Court after he was arrested under section 4A of the Public Order Act 1986 for ‘insulting’ a member of the public in Leeds City Centre on 8 June 2021.
Convicted for ‘misgendering’
The arrest was made after he ‘misgendered’ a biological male who self-identified as a ‘trans woman’ during a one-on-one conversation with a police officer who was covered in pagan tattoos and an upside-down cross.
Prior to the arrest, Dave had been assaulted, abused and had his belongings stolen while he was preaching. He was subsequently convicted at the Magistrates Court, made to pay costs of £620 and forced to do 80 hours of community service despite there being no legal obligation to use a trans person’s preferred pronouns in the UK.
Following his conviction, and prior to the sentencing hearing, the Probation Service reported Dave to the Joint Counter-Terrorism Team. The report was made despite the probation officer concluding that it was clear that Dave’s Christian faith had positively impacted his life.
It is believed Dave is the first street preacher to be convicted for such an offence and reported as a potential ‘terrorist.’
Read also: “Misgendering” is not a crime by Tim Dieppe, Artillery Row
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