Trans Women No longer Welcome at Labour Women’s Conference – Not In Our Name

Hot on the heels of last weeks’ devastating news that the Women’s Institute and Girlguiding will stop welcoming trans women and girls from April 2026, the Labour Party has announced that trans women will no longer be able to attend the Women’s Conference or vote on women’s policy and representation. 

A member of the NION Women Collective – and Labour Women’s party member – shared her views on what that means – and why it matters…

“For years, trans women have been part of this conference. The women delegates –  including ALL women – have voted, debated, disagreed, chosen representatives and shaped policy – together. It is our shared experience that enables us to make informed decisions about the real things that impact us all. Now that’s ending.

“Women at these conferences have always had the right to choose who represents us and what our priorities are: that’s democracy. Taking away our ability to include trans women in that process isn’t protecting women’s voices. It’s limiting them.

“All women, including trans women, experience barriers: violence, discrimination, being shut out of spaces where decisions get made – so when we exclude trans women, we’re just making the circle smaller.

“I also worry about what this decision means for trans people trying to participate in public life at all. They’re already hugely underrepresented in politics.

Decisions like this don’t just exclude trans women from one conference; they send a message that they’re not welcome anywhere.

“I don’t believe that this is what most women want. Many of us are uncomfortable with what’s happening but unsure how to say so. The debate has been so hostile that staying quiet feels safer than speaking up. But this matters.

When we let some of the most vulnerable people in our communities be pushed out, we all lose something.

“As a collective, NION Women believe that all women should be able to participate in spaces and decisions that affect them, which is why we are taking a stand. This week, our letter passed 70k signatures of support for the trans community. 

“We are hopeful our message of love and solidarity will continue to gather momentum, and allow those shaping policy and convening conferences to think about the hurt and harm they might be causing – and look for a better way.” 

If this resonates with you, join us by reading, signing and sharing our letter – Not In Our Name: Women in support of the trans+ community.

You don’t need to be an activist or an expert – just someone who feels that shutting trans women out of a conversation that impacts us all so directly, just isn’t right.