POLICE are preparing for clashes as a controversial speaker visits the city next weekend.

Kellie-Jay Keen, who announced she will be visiting Brighton as part of a “Speakers’ Corner tour”, has sparked a backlash from LGBTQ+ campaigners who criticise her views on transgender rights, saying they are transphobic.

In a video from Preston Park in August promoting the event, Ms Keen, who also goes by the name Posie Parker, said that Brighton was “awash with… nasty, pernicious, woman-hating Pride flags everywhere”.

She said: “If we call Brighton the capital of lesbian and gay people in the UK, they have to be the victims of this absolutely vile gay conversion therapy known as transgenderism.”

Ms Keen said she expects hundreds of people to attend the event at The Level.

However, campaign group LGB With The T described the event as a “hate cult gathering”, accused her of “putting down Brighton” and called on residents to “defend your city”.

Activist group Reclaim Pride Brighton also said people should “fight Posie Parker by any means you see fit” in a post on social media, prompting some Twitter users to describe the language used as an “incitement to violence”.

Speaking on TalkTV, Ms Keen told Julia Hartley-Brewer that she “takes these threats seriously” and said: “They are deep misogynists and a fringe element persuadable to committing violence.”

A police spokesman said: “Sussex Police is aware of an event being held at The Level on September 18, as well as plans for protest.

“Officers are in contact with the event organisers as well as demonstrators and preparations are in place to ensure the safety of everybody involved and to minimise disruption to the wider community.”

The event comes just over a month after a float at Brighton Pride was praised for featuring signs that said “No LGB without the T”.

Pridegoers took to social media to praise hardware store Wickes for the float’s solidarity with transgender people.