A transgender woman brazenly interrupted senator Cory Bernardi during a press conference to scold him for his outspoken opinion on LGBTIQ rights.
Julia Doulman interrupted Senator Bernardi as he spoke with reporters at a by-election press event at an Epping public school, in Sydney’s north-west on Saturday.
An affable Bernardi initially greeted Ms Doulman as she approached him at the stand, but attempted to shut down her protestations as the woman grew angry.
Julia Doulman (right) interrupted Senator Bernardi (pictured) as he spoke with reporters at a by-election press event at an Epping public school, in Sydney’s north-west on Saturday
An affable Bernardi initially greeted Ms Doulman (pictured) as she approached him at the stand, but attempted to shut down her protestations as the woman grew angry
‘Hi Cory, my name’s Julia and I’m transgender and I’m not what all you guys think, all you religious nutters,’ the woman said.
‘I had a good catholic upbringing on a farm in Bathurst mate.’
Bernardi then interrupted the woman and said: ‘Okay, thanks Julia – if you want to have a crack, let’s finish this press conference.’
‘You might want to speak with one of our volunteers, you have something in common with them over there.’
Bernardi (pictured) interrupted the woman and said: ‘Okay, thanks Julia – if you want to have a crack, let’s finish this press conference’
The woman began to walk away but returned to speak in front of the cameras to inform the Senator she had voted for Kristina Keneally.
She also told Bernardi to watch a documentary which had been made about her transition, called Becoming Julia.
‘You can watch the film about me that screened worldwide… you watch it, you’ll learn something,’ she said.
To which Cory laughed and replied: ‘I’m sure I won’t.’
‘We don’t all screw cats,’ Ms Doulman added before finally walking away.
Julia Doulman (pictured left before her transition and right on Q&A in 2015) was the star of her own gender transition documentary
The woman was referencing previous comments the senator had made linking same sex gay marriage to bestiality.
‘There are some creepy people out there…who are unfortunately afforded a great deal more respect than I believe they deserve,’ Bernardi said during a 2012 debate on gay marriage.
‘These people say it is okay to have consensual sexual relations between humans and animals. Will that be a future step?’
Ms Doulman, who was born a man named Paul, was the star of her own gender transition documentary in 2003 and was a public face for transgender equality after she was allegedly fired from her job as a bus driver.