Community leaders have united to condemn an anti-transgender campaign launched just days out from the Wagga Mardi Gras.
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Several dozen anti-trans stickers were found plastered over light poles, benches, and garbage bins throughout Baylis Street.
The messages were allegedly put up by a woman going by the moniker "The Wagga Feminist", who is part of an anti-trans ideology known as radical feminism or Trans Exclusionary Radical Feminism.
"Don't believe the hype - trans activism is misogyny," one of them reads.
"Words mean nothing when men can say they are women. Women's rights mean nothing when men can say they are women," another says.
The messages "disgusted" transgender woman Holly Conroy, who said the messages were not examples of true feminism.
"All these radical feminists are doing is putting a divide on women," Ms Conroy said.
"They don't understand we're an ally. I don't understand why they wouldn't want more numbers fighting for the cause of women."
As the main organiser of Wagga Mardi Gras, Ms Conroy said the event was a good chance for people to throw their support behind a message of inclusivity.
"Mardi Gras is having a huge impact and I think Wagga's a better place for it," Ms Conroy said.
"Most people are good, caring, open-hearted people. It's a small minority that don't get it."
Charles Sturt University equity and diversity project manager Nic Steepe, a prominent lobbyist for LGBTI rights, said the university opposed the sentiments.
"We are committed to inclusion, particularly for LGBTQI+ individuals and creating a welcoming and affirming environment for everyone," Mr Steepe said.
"I think someone who promotes this kind of exclusion and continues to perpetrate these myths doesn't have a right to speak on behalf of feminists."
In other news:
Wagga City Council mayor Greg Conkey also threw his condemnation behind the message, saying council would be removing them from public property as soon as possible.
"I'm very disappointed to hear about these stickers going up; we pride ourselves on being an inclusive, compassionate, caring community," Councillor Conkey said.
"This represents a small number of people. The vast majority are very inclusive."
Included in the anti-trans campaign were anti-pornography and anti-prostitution messages, which are another characteristic of "second wave" radical feminist ideology.
They also contained general female empowerment messages, such as "girls can do anything" and "yes girl, you can".
Kenji Sato
Kenji Sato is a handsome journalist at The Daily Advertiser who enjoys writing flattering bios about himself in the third person. He can be contacted by email at kenji.sato@dailyadvertiser.com.au or by mobile on 0448 927 612.
Kenji Sato is a handsome journalist at The Daily Advertiser who enjoys writing flattering bios about himself in the third person. He can be contacted by email at kenji.sato@dailyadvertiser.com.au or by mobile on 0448 927 612.
