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As NION Women’s letter in support of the trans community continues to gather pace we look at how far we have come as we approach the anniversary of the Supreme Court ruling on the legal definition of man and woman in the Equality Act, and how that has impacted the trans community.
One year ago this month, the UK Supreme Court ruled that the terms “woman” and “man” in the Equality Act should be defined in terms of “biological sex” alone – a decision that overturned 15 years of legal understanding and has had profound and painful consequences for trans people’s legal recognition, everyday inclusion, and basic dignity.
Within hours of the ruling, a familiar story was being told: that this was a ‘win’ for cis* women. However, as women who believe in the acceptance and inclusion of our trans+ siblings, we did not feel that way.
Not In Our Name was founded in the weeks that followed, out of a refusal to let a minority speak on our behalf, a refusal to stay silent while trans people were being scapegoated in our name, and a refusal to accept narratives that pitch trans rights against women’s rights, while ignoring the real sources of gender-based oppression and violence.
What happened next surprised even us. Women who had stayed out of this conversation – because it had become so toxic and polarised that engagement felt impossible – started signing. Mothers, teachers, nurses, and friends, ordinary women who had watched the debate from a distance and who had felt increasingly uncomfortable with what was being said and done, but had nowhere to put that discomfort – until our open letter gave them an outlet.
That is the story we want to tell on this anniversary: not one about a ruling, but the one about what happens when women whose voices have been co-opted and weaponised against the trans+ community finally get handed the microphone.
A year of showing up
We are so proud and encouraged that our open letter now has almost 100,000 signatures – and continues to grow by the hour.
Alongside this, we are steadily expanding our networks; reaching out via likeminded organisations and individuals to ensure our message can be seen by more and more people, and providing them with firm evidence that they can use to support the case for trans inclusion.
We have stepped up to the plate, to be visible in our allyship – walking out in front of thousands at TransMission Live, a fundraiser concert for the trans community. Standing there, looking out at that crowd, was one of the moments that has stayed with us – because it showed us what this movement looks like when it’s visible and filled with joy.
It’s also filled with love. On Valentines Day, we invited our cis* supporters to write “letters of love” to the trans+ community. The outpouring of love, acceptance and solidarity for our trans+ siblings showed us without doubt what this movement is all about.
We were delighted to meet a number of our supporters when we marched in the Women’s Bloc for the Together Alliance march. There, we saw true intersectionality represented, and solidarity between so many groups and individuals, all working towards a kinder, fairer, more inclusive world.
We’ve met with and had support from an incredible network of influential allies – from Carla Denyer MP, Kate Nash, Beverley Knight, Denise Welch, Kate Osborne MP and Deborah Frances-White to Robin Ince, Russell T Davies, David Tennant, and Zack Polanski, all of whom expressed their support for what we’re doing.
Throughout the year, when a major news story relating to the trans+ community broke, and was framed as a ‘victory’ for women, we have spoken up to ensure our voices were included in the coverage. That work has placed NION’s perspective in outlets such as HuffPost, Good Morning Britain, The Guardian, DIVA and LGBTQ Nation. We have also shared our voices on local radio shows and national podcasts, with plenty more interviews lined up.
We are also delighted and honoured that our work has been nominated for a National Diversity Award.
Trans-inclusive cis* women are an important part of this conversation, and we intend to ensure our collective voice continues to be heard.
What’s next
And there’s much more to come. We will soon be meeting formally with MPs to make the case that support for trans inclusion is not a niche or radical position — it is the position of an ever-growing number of ordinary cis* women.
We are going out into communities where women may only be hearing one side of this story and offering them balance. We will continue to build on the connections and partnerships created over the past 12 months and you will see us showing up in new spaces, with new voices, and with a growing number of women behind us.
We are not a counter-movement, we are the wider movement – the proof is in these nearly 100,000 signatures. We are even beginning to see our model being replicated outside of the UK.
It is easy to believe that the loudest voices in the room represent the views of the many, but they do not represent us, and we will keep saying so.
Add your voice
If you haven’t already signed, you don’t need to be an expert, an activist, or have all the answers. You just need to believe that trans people deserve to live without being blamed for things they haven’t done. If that’s where you are, add your name. It takes thirty seconds and it matters more than you might think.
If you have already signed, share this blog. There may be women in your life who feel exactly as you do and haven’t yet found the words or the space to say so. Point them in our direction.
Nearly 100,000 women have already spoken. And more are joining us every day.
Footnote: * “cisgender” or “cis” is someone who is not transgender.