A judge has overturned the conviction of a Christian street preacher who was arrested and reported to the government’s anti-terrorism watchdog for ‘misgendering’ a heckler.
Dave McConnell, 42, from Wakefield, was appealing a conviction at Leeds Crown Court after he was arrested under section 4A of the Public Order Act 1986.
He was originally arrested for ‘insulting’ a member of the public in Leeds City Centre on 8 June 2021 after he ‘misgendered’ a biological male who self-identified as a ‘trans woman’.
‘“Misgendering” is not a crime and should never be treated as such. I do not believe I was “misgendering”, I believed I was telling the truth.’
