This is not an isolated case. Across the West, dissent is increasingly treated as criminal. Only two weeks ago, Irish comedian Graham Linehan was arrested at Heathrow and interrogated by five armed officers over three tweets. In Brazil, activist Isabella Cêpa was forced to flee the country after being prosecuted for “misgendering” a politician and facing up to 25 years in prison. From Britain to Reykjavík to São Paulo, words are being policed with the full force of the state.

How such a story could be condemned by someone so far removed from its emotional and cultural reality is not just ironic, it’s symptomatic of a broader trend where the loudest voices in the “LGBTQIA” often drown out the most relevant ones. Oseman’s stance may align with current orthodoxy, but it raises a troubling question.

Following his arrest, Matthew was released on bail under conditions that prevent him from naming or referencing the complainant. How can someone publicly defend themselves or correct false claims when they are legally barred from identifying their accuser?