Police have closed their investigation into transphobic stickers placed at Subiaco playgrounds after concluding that the messages did not amount to a hate crime. The stickers, which read “trans women are real men,” were spotted late last year across public spaces in Subiaco, including a playground off Bagot Road near Subiaco Primary School.
Two more reports were made since the start of the year, which the city reported to Crime Stoppers and a WA Police taskforce. Police investigated the matter but said last week they had concluded their inquiries and determined the stickers did not constitute a criminal offence.
“This matter has been fully investigated and while the content of these stickers does not meet the criteria for a criminal offence, we acknowledge that some members of the public may have been offended,” a WA Police spokesperson said. For the matter to be classified as a hate crime, the sticker would “need to have incited, urged or threatened violence,” police added.
Transfolk WA chief executive officer Sam Gibbings said the outcome highlighted a gap in WA’s laws. “Targeted harassment in playgrounds shouldn’t be allowed,” she said. Ms Gibbings noted that the placement of stickers in areas used by children felt predatory, questioning the intent behind the actions. She emphasized that such messages are designed to create division and import a loud, aggressive culture war-style politics.
Ms Gibbings acknowledged the resilience of the trans community but warned that younger people are more vulnerable to hateful messages. “For trans youth, the hurt is real, it makes them feel unsafe in their own neighbourhoods and signals that their existence is up for debate,” she said. Despite an increase in such vandalism in recent years, she attributed it to a “small, radicalised fringe” and called for community love and respect to prevail.
