Good Law Project has apologised to members of the trans community and withdrawn its ‘Monster’ campaign after concerns were raised about how it had been received.
In a statement issued by executive director Jo Maugham, the legal campaign organisation said it had listened to criticism from the trans community and instructed its media partners, including Scene, to remove the campaign.
The campaign, titled Monster, was created by artist Martin Firrell and was intended to address what the organisation described as opposition to trans people's rights, spaces and joy. According to the Good Law Project, the campaign was designed to speak primarily to cisgender audiences and had been positively received during testing with allies and members of the team involved in its development, including trans people.
However, the organisation acknowledged that the campaign had damaged trust among some within the trans community.
“We want to apologise for how the ‘Monster’ campaign has been received by the trans community,” the statement said. “We’ve heard you - and we’ve instructed our media partners to take the campaign down.”
The Good Law Project said the campaign had been funded through a single donation and had generated at least one four-figure contribution during its brief run. The organisation also defended the intentions behind the project, arguing that it is important to engage both the trans community and the wider public in efforts to tackle anti-trans sentiment.
Despite that, Maugham said the impact of the campaign on trust within the community outweighed any potential benefits.
“All of this is true – but none of it matters if it damages the trust we enjoy with the trans community and it has,” the statement said. “So it will be taken down today.”
The organisation reiterated its commitment to supporting trans people and highlighted other projects it has backed, including the 86-metre Trans Unity Quilt, which is due to be carried along the route of London Trans+ Pride later this month before appearing at further events outside the capital.
Maugham concluded by offering a further apology to those upset by the campaign and thanked members of the trans community who continue to support the organisation’s work.
“We remain, as ever, extraordinarily grateful to the many members of the trans community who continue to support our work for the community,” the statement said.
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