A fight has broken out over transphobic stickers in Oxford city centre.

Thames Valley Police said a large number of the offensive stickers have been placed on lampposts and other street furnitiure.

They started appearing in March 2019 in High Street, Catte Street and Parks Road area.

Oxford Mail:

But in a bid to fight back, supporters of transgender people have been removing the offensive labels and replacing them with supportive messages.

READ AGAIN: Police appeal for witnesses after transphobic stickers appear

One sticker seen on a lamppost near the entrance to the Covered Market today said: "Bisexuals with our trans siblings."

Oxford Mail:

Zayna Ratty, chair of Oxford Pride, said: "Since Oxford Pride day and before that transphobic stickers have been going up around the city centre.

"There was one near the Pitt Rivers Museum with a graphic image of a penis in trans colours - blue white and pink - with a transphobic message alongside it.

Oxford Mail:

"Supporters of the transgender community have been removing the offensive stickers or covering them up with their own supportive stickers.

"There are dedicated activists out there going round removing the transphobic stickers.

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"The transgender community should not have to put up with these transphobic stickers - they get enough abuse as it is without having to see this walking through the city centre.

Oxford Mail:

"It's inducing hate crime - I think there should be mandatory education around trans issues rather than fining people."

Ms Ratty shared images of the transphobic stickers with the Oxford Mail to show how offensive they could be.

Going Digital told oxfordmail.co.uk: "The whole thing is utterly ridiculous!

"The only time your genitals make a difference is when you intend to have a sexual relationship with someone, otherwise really it doesn't matter what someone identifies themselves as.

"We have been fighting for decades for equality of the sexes, instead of categorising someone by their gender, we should be looking at them as a person. It doesn't matter to me, what their age, race, gender, political affiliation is, they are just a person.

"I don't have to understand the most intimate parts of their life, just accept that these things are important to them and accept them for who they are.

It is nobody else's business to tell someone else how they should live their life as long as it is within the law. What gender someone identifies as is of no concern to me."

A Twitter feed called Stickers Against Hate has been documenting the row.

Thames Valley Police is investigating and appealing for witnesses following the offences.

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Investigating officer PC Rebecca Nightingale based at St Aldates police station said: “Behaviour like this is not acceptable and we take incidents of this nature very seriously.

“I am appealing for anyone who may of witnesses these stickers being placed around the city or anyone who has information that may assist our investigation to call the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference 43190163238 or report online.

Oxford Mail:

“Alternatively, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111.”