A women's rights meeting to discuss controversial transgender law changes will be held at a secret venue to avoid disruption from activists.

Organisers of a meeting to discuss proposed changes to the 2004 Gender Recognition Act have withheld details of the location from the public after previous meetings have led to them being labelled ‘transphobic bigots’.

The proposed law change would make it much easier for people to legally change their gender. But some argue the changes could disadvantage women and have implications for toilets, changing rooms and hospital wards, while making it harder to gather data.

Feminist activist Beatrix Campbell, Ruth Serwotka, of Socialist Feminist Network and socialist transwoman Kristin-Jayne Harrison are due to speak at the sell-out public meeting, called A Woman’s Place is Under Threat, tonight.

Women’s Place UK, who are hosting the discussion, claim similar meetings have been disrupted or cancelled as a result of trans activists ‘harassing’ venue owners. Security will be on the door at tonight’s event.

Emma Wilks, speaking on behalf of Women’s Place UK, said: “In the past, details of similar events have been passed onto trans activists who have then rung the venue, saying ‘there are transphobic people holding a meeting at your venue’ or ‘they are bigots’. They misrepresent us and some meetings have ended up being cancelled.

“It’s a public meeting and we are not stopping anyone from attending. We are happy to hear everyone’s views, we just want the meeting to go ahead in a respectful way. If people are disruptive we will ask them to leave.”

The meeting’s discussion will centre on how to maintain women’s rights as transgender laws evolve.

The most recent proposals announced by the Government could result in the gender transition process being ‘de-medicalised’ or ‘streamlined’.

Currently people need a diagnosis of gender dysphoria and have to provide evidence that they have been in transition for at least two years before they can apply to legally change their gender.

Proposed changes to the 2004 act would allow people to self-identify as the gender they choose, without the need for a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria, or to surgically transition.

Those opposed to the changes say self-identification may also mean the end of women-only hospital wards and other spaces where a ‘male’ presence would be ‘unwelcome’, including changing rooms and toilets.

These are the matters up for discussion at the Women’s Place UK meeting. Details of the venue were not disclosed online or revealed to ticket-holders in the days before the event.

Ms Wilks added: “The discussion is centred on how to maintain the rights of women and girls.

“We accept there are issues with the current gender transition process, however, we feel self-identification is potentially problematic. We think there should be gate-keeping around getting a gender recognition certificate.”