Paris Lees

Paris Lees (born 1998) is a British man who identifies as a woman and is a transgender activist.

## Contents

* 1 Early Life
* 2 Controversy
* 3 Dislike of Free Speech and Debate
* 4 References

## Early Life[edit]

According to his own statement, he came from a very disturbed background, with parents who split up at his birth, and no stable home. He claims that he was bullied at school, though all British schools have a non-bullying policy.[1] He has admitted that as a teenager he worked as a homosexual prostitute and was convicted of robbing a customer so violently that despite his youth the judge gave him a 2-year prison sentence. He served eight months of the sentence when he was aged 18 [2] He has also admitted to taking illegal drugs and suffering from severe depression. [3] After having facial surgery he started to work as a model.[4]

## Controversy[edit]

In 2018 his appearance on the cover of Vogue magazine in an issue dedicated to suffragettes was found offensive and inappropriate by many women. [5]

His claim to be a "feminist" is regarded as contentious by many women, particularly radical feminists.

## Dislike of Free Speech and Debate[edit]

In August 2014, Lees canceled an appearance on BBC Newsnight to talk about the impact of Kellie Maloney coming out as a trans "woman" saying "I'm not prepared to enter into a fabricated debate about trans people's right to exist/express themselves." [6] He apparently equates existence and agreement with his views.

## References[edit]

1. ↑ https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/5273505/paris-lees-first-openly-transgender-model-british-vogue-journalist-activist/
2. ↑ Lees, Paris. "'I hope Chelsea Manning gets the help she needs': Paris Lees, transgender former prisoner, on life inside", The Guardian, 23 August 2013. Retrieved on 27 October 2013.
3. ↑ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-24538594
4. ↑ https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/5273505/paris-lees-first-openly-transgender-model-british-vogue-journalist-activist/
5. ↑ https://twitter.com/MrHenryWimbush/status/995039879368265728 2 days ago - 1/ Paris Lees graced the cover of Vogue as a 'new suffragette'. ... a prostitute who had robbed a punter so violently that she'd earned a 2-year ...
6. ↑ Paris Lees walks out on BBC interview, gaystarnews.com; accessed 9 December 2014.