UK, Canadian Activists Arrested in Brussels over Gender Ideology Signs

Lois McLatchie Miller, a Scottish Christian woman and senior legal communications officer for Alliance Defending Freedom International (ADF), and Chris Elston, a Canadian child advocate known as "Billboard Chris," were arrested in Brussels for peacefully holding signs stating "Children are never born in the wrong body." Despite their peaceful conduct, they were detained for several hours, forced to remove their clothes, and had their signs confiscated without being charged. The arrests occurred amid hostility from a crowd, and police prioritized detaining the activists rather than addressing the aggression towards them. ADF International condemned the Belgian authorities for suppressing free speech and is exploring legal options to challenge this perceived authoritarianism in the heart of Europe. The incident highlights ongoing tensions in Europe over free speech related to gender ideology and raises concerns about the protection of fundamental rights in democratic societies. Both activists were released without charges, but their treatment has sparked widespread criticism and calls for stronger legal protections for free expression.