British musician and activist Louise Distras pleaded not guilty to a harassment charge at Leeds Magistrates Court on Thursday. No bail conditions were imposed. Her trial is scheduled for July 24, 2025, at Leeds Crown Court.

Distras said the charge stems from remarks made during a Let Women Speak rally in Leeds in November 2023 and an online discussion on X Spaces the following month.

In a statement on Substack, Distras claimed she had cut off contact with a male in 2020 due to alleged abuse. She said she reported the behavior to police and later obtained a non-molestation order. However, she claims the harassment escalated in 2023 after she began speaking publicly about gender issues.

Distras said she was arrested by West Yorkshire Police in December 2023 over alleged harassment, based in part on her public remarks. Police released her with no further action. Eighteen months later, she said she was formally charged with breaching a non-molestation order that expired in February 2024.

"My name is Louise Distras.  I’m a musician," she explained in a crowdfunding post.  "But in 2023 my career and my life was turned upside down after I was accused of being transphobic and subjected to a sustained campaign of harassment, stalking and malicious communications. Now I need to raise £30,000 for the legal expertise to fight a trial in April.

 

Before the Covid lockdowns I was an internationally touring musician – I performed all over the UK, America, Canada, Europe and Scandinavia. 

... But in May 2023 I began to notice radio stations had stopped playing my music and venues had stopped booking me. I suspected this was because of the rumours that were circulating online claiming I’m transphobic," her post explained.

"Put simply I don’t believe people can change sex.  I’m vocal about that - being a woman, and the experiences I’ve had because I’m a woman, are central to my music and my life," she explained.

She argued that the legal action is an attempt to silence her views. “This case isn’t just about me—it’s about protecting free speech and ensuring the legal system isn’t misused to silence dissent,” she said.

Distras urged supporters not to contact or harass the individual involved in the case.