Given the low gravity of the offending

What’s the big deal?

trans rights activist who poured tomato juice over controversial women’s rights activist Posie Parker is seeking to have her conviction overturned, with her lawyer saying it was out of proportion to the offending.

Eli Rubashkyn previously pleaded guilty to assault after she poured tomato juice over Parker – also known as Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull – and another woman at Auckland’s Albert Park in March 2023.

Eli Rubashkyn ain’t no she.

Rubashkyn earlier pleaded guilty to two charges of assault and was convicted and discharged by Judge Kirsten Lummis in September.

On Tuesday, Rubashkyn’s lawyer, James Olsen, appealed the conviction at the High Court at Auckland. Olsen told Justice David Johnstone that Judge Lummis was not correct to convict his client given the low gravity of the offending.

Really. It’s no big deal for a man to stop a woman speaking by assaulting her, is it. Is that because women just don’t matter?

Rubashkyn was deeply remorseful for her actions and the impact it had on the two victims and the wider communities on both sides of the aisle, Olsen said.

Was he? Why? Why be deeply remorseful if the actions were low gravity?

Olsen said Rubashkyn’s offending was born out of her attempt to support those within the LGBTQI+ and transgender communities and was significantly affected by Parker’s attendance.

Wait, what? Why do trans people get counted twice? Why the LGBTQI+ and the transgender communinnies?

Olsen said Judge Lummis hadn’t properly considered the general consequences of the conviction and submitted it was out of all proportion given the offending.

“This was pouring tomato juice as an act of protest to prevent Ms Keen from speaking,” Olsen said.

No it wasn’t. It wasn’t “pouring tomato juice”; it was pouring tomato juice over a woman’s head to prevent her from speaking. Also keep in mind that she couldn’t know at the time that it was only tomato juice.

She is a qualified pharmacist and researcher and an advocate for intersex and gender issues at the United Nations. The conviction will have an impact on her ability to travel for work and gain employment in pharmacy.

Good. It ought to.

H/t Rob

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