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Liza Vespi / “Esme Vee” vs. transgender people

Liza Vespi is a Canadian filmmaker and anti-transgender activist. Vespi is a founding member of anti-trans group Canadian Women’s Sex-Based Rights (caWsbar).

Vespi has used a number of fake names and handles, including

  • “Esme Vee”
  • “Esmeralda Vee”
  • esme_saysno

In 2023, Vespi began doing anti-trans activism under the name Liza Vespi.

Background

According to a bio supplied to caWsbar, Vespit identifies as a “media worker, filmmaker and mother of one. She’s spent 30 years working in a variety of creative and leadership roles from web designer to documentarian to executive director of a non-profit arts organization. […] Together with Amy Hamm, she writes, produces and co-hosts the podcast Gender Critical Story Hour.”

Anti-trans activism

In 2021 and 2022, Amy Hamm and Vespi (as “Esme Vee”) hosted Gender Critical Story Hour podcast. Episodes include:

  • 0 – trailer
  • 1 – Meghan Murphy (February 21, 2021)
  • 2 – Marguerite Stern (February 22, 2021)
  • 3 – Laoise Uí Aodha de Brún (February 23, 2021)
  • 4 – Barbara Kay (February 24, 2021)
  • 5 – Graham Linehan (February 28, 2021)
  • 6 – Heather Mason and Madeline Riversong (March 20, 2021)
  • 7 – Linda Blade (June 4, 2021)
  • 8 – Bad Women: Amy & Esme (June 20, 2021)
  • 9 – Cancel Club: Amy & Esme (July 26, 2021)
  • 10 – Heather Mason and Linda Blade (April 7, 2022)
  • 11 – Sue-Ann Levy (April 26, 2022)
  • 12 – The Haters Inside the Canadian “Anti-Hate” Network (July 25, 2022)
  • 13 – How Far Can They Go: Are we reaching peak trans? (September 29, 2022)

Vespi has helped organize and has spoken at caWsbar events:

On March 8, 2024, caWsbar’s event Reality Based Women Unite was held in Toronto. The event was significantly funded by right-wing civil liberties group The Democracy Fund and featured Trish Oliver, Amy Hamm, April Hutchinson, Eva Kurilova, Raine McLeod, Heather Mason, Meghan Murphy, and Linda Blade.

On March 8, 2025 caWsbar’s event Reality Based Women Unite was held in Calgary. The event featured Liza Vespi, Maureen Sullivan, Drea Humphrey, Ghislaine Gendron, Trish Oliver, John Carpay, Amy Hamm, Heather Mason, and Kara Dansky.

On March 7, 2026, caWsbar’s event Reality Based Women Unite was held in Montreal. The event featured Linda Blade, “Genevieve Gluck,” Alexandra Houle, Heather Mason, Anna Slatz, and Natasha Tutino.

References

Oger, Morgane (June 29, 2021). Assertions minus evidence equals bias. https://morganeoger.ca/2021/06/29/assertions-minus-evidence-equals-bias/

Selected writing by Vespi

Vespi, Liza and signatories (March 14, 2021). Submission to the United Nations Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation And Gender Identity. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f232ea74d8342386a7ebc52/t/604e7b4a6d35051754210ccb/1615756106628/UN+Gender+Consult+Submission+-+WoLF+-+March+14th+2021.pdf

Vespi, Liza and WDI / caWsbar signatories (September 3, 2024). Written submission for the 89th CEDAW Session, October 7 – 25, 2024. https://womensdeclaration.com/documents/422/Written_submission_for_the_89th_CEDAW_Session_from_WDI-Canada_and_caWsbar_-_3__N3F8dA4.pdf alt url vis Gender Dissent https://www.genderdissent.com/post/cawsbar-wdicanada-united-nations-report [archive]

Resources

Raindance (raindance.org)

Highscribe / Vespi Inc. (highscribe.com)

Instagram (instagram.com)

Facebook (facebook.com)

X/Twitter (x.com)

IMDb (imdb.com)

LinkedIn (linkedin.com)