On Monday, the pair were due to appear together at Canterbury Christ Church University, at an event entitled 're-radicalising queers'. But Cowling objected, as Tatchell had previously supported feminist Germaine Greer, who had been no-platformed by Manchester University for her views on transgenders.

Cowling refused to appear on the same stage as Tatchell, but when the college refused to no-platform him, she effectively no-platformed herself – and stayed away.

The sorry affair is a strong example of the McCarthyist attitude that is currently sweeping through our university lecture halls and bars, where smears of transphobia are the trump card in the identity politics pack. That Tatchell has been one of Britain's most prominent gay rights voices and a campaigner for the trans community for 49 years is, apparently, neither here nor there.