Hundreds of feminists write to The Guardian rejecting argument that trans rights threaten women

More than 200 feminists have written to British newspaper The Guardian rejecting the argument that transgender rights are a threat to women.

The letter was organised in response to Monday's column by The Guardian writer Suzanne Moore: "Women must have the right to organise. We will not be silenced."

A handful of Guardian staffers are among the letter's signatories, the list of which is published below in full.

Nim Ralph , a community activist who signed the pro-trans letter, said: "The Guardian keep giving space to these 'thought' pieces amplifying a small subsection of the feminist movement who want to pit trans people against cis women, as an outside 'other' subhuman category.

"It needs to do better, it needs to recognise – as Suzanne Moore pointed out – that trans people (women, men and non-binary folks) are in the same fight for our lives with cis women against gender-based violence and the patriarchal construct that our bodies’ reproductive functions are what determines our social position.

"It would be great if there were more columns dedicated to talking about how we are fighting effectively on issues ranging from domestic violence to HIV to racial justice as represented in the signatories of this letter, instead of feeding the long fuelled fire of divide and rule.

"The world needs us shoulder to shoulder more than ever right now, I wish The Guardian would stop it’s campaign of dividing us. It’s boring and exhausting."

British politicians including Sian Berry, co-leader of the Green Party; Christine Jardine, the Liberal Democrat equalities spokesperson; and Labour MPs Zarah Sultana and Nadia Whitome have all signed the letter.

"Moore’s column does not represent the views of the public, nor is it representative of the views of most women," the letter says.
It is signed by leading women and non-binary people from a cross-section of British public life, including musician Beth Ditto; author Reni Eddo-Lodge; UK Black Pride founder Lady Phyll; editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan magazine, Claire Hodgson; Jo Grady, the general secretary of the UCU; and Kate Allen, director of Amnesty International UK.

Letter to The Guardian.

"We reject the argument put forward in a column by Suzanne Moore for the G2 (03.03.2020) in which she implies that advocating for trans rights poses a threat to cisgender women. The British Social Attitudes Survey (2017) found that a majority of the British public were supportive of transgender people, with women more likely to be in favour of trans rights than men. Moore’s column does not represent the views of the public, nor is it representative of the views of most women.
"Both trans people and cisgender women are discriminated against because of their gender. This is why both groups experience harassment in the street, sexual violence, domestic abuse, and poverty at much higher rates than cisgender men. Trans people experience more difficulties accessing healthcare, higher rates of suicide, more frequent mental health issues, and are more likely to be victims of hate crimes. 
"We stand together in opposition to such abuse and inequality. As believers in human rights and justice, it is our duty to support all marginalised communities as they fight for respect and equality. And as feminists, we believe that we need to keep fighting for gender-based services and resources together."

Signatories.

Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, founder of UK Black Pride 
Beth Ditto, musician
Carrie Lyell, editor-in-chief, DIVA magazine 
Zing Tsjeng, Vice UK executive editor 
Reni Eddo-Lodge, author 
Zarah Sultana, MP 
Nadia Whitome, MP 
Sian Berry, co-leader of the Green Party
Amelia Womack, deputy leader of the Green Party 
Christine Jardine MP, Liberal Democrat equalities spokesperson
Claire Hodgson, editor-in-chief at Cosmopolitan
Tai Shani, Turner Prize co-winner 2019 
Kate Allen, Director, Amnesty International UK
Martha Spurrier, director of Liberty
Alison Camps, co-chair of Pride in London 
Faiza Shaheen, director CLASS 
Rachel Watters, NUS Women's Officer 
Nim Ralph, QTIPOC London cofounder and anti-oppression consultant 
Ash Sarkar, Novara Media 
Jo Grady, General Secretary of the UCU
Travis Alabanza, performer and writer 
Journalists and people working in the media
Amanda Holpuch, national correspondent at Guardian US 
Mona Chalabi, data editor at Guardian US
Hannah J Davies, editorial at The Guardian 
Simran Hans, writer and film critic at The Observer 
Nosheen Iqbal, reporter at The Observer
Emily Mackay, subeditor at The Guardian's Observer New Review 
Kathryn Bromwich, acting deputy editor at The Guardian's The Guide 
Laura Snapes, deputy music editor at The Guardian
Vic Parsons, gender and identities reporter at PinkNews
Lily Wakefield, news reporter at PinkNews
Emma Powys Maurice, news reporter at PinkNews
Amy Ashenden, senior production editor at PinkNews
Matilda Davies, brand partnerships manager at PinkNews
Scarlet Pestell, junior producer at PinkNews
Abi McIntosh, producer at PinkNews
Alex Goldsmith, junior producer at PinkNews
Ana Nanu, programme executive at PinkNews
Nina Lecourt, senior producer at PinkNews
Molly Tinneny, operations and events assistant at PinkNews
Sarah Watson, director of commerce at PinkNews
Georgina Baker, junior designer at PinkNews
Harriet Williamson, journalist
Jordan Erica Webber, writer and presenter
Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff, head of editorial at gal-dem
Micha Frazer-Caroll, first person and opinions editor at gal-dem
Leah Cowen, political editor at gal-dem
Tara Joshi, music editor at gal-dem 
Mariel Richards, head of strategy and brand partnerships at gal-dem 
Anna Cafolla, deputy editor at Dazed digital 
Emily Wilson, editor of New Scientist 
Aimee Meade, deputy online comment editor at the i
Dawn Foster, staff writer at Jacobin 
Felicity Martin, editor of DummyMag 
Lola Okolosie, writer and teacher 
Sharan Dhaliwal, editor-in-chief of Burnt Roti Magazine
Mollie Goodfellow, writer 
Rosy Edwards, Metro
Paisley Gilmour, sex and relationships editor at Cosmopolitan
Moya Lothian-McLean, acting politics editor gal-dem 
Lauren O'Neill, Vice UK 
Elena Cresci, journalist 
Anna Gross, markets reporter at Financial Times 
Alix Fox, writer, broadcaster and sex educator 
Eve Hartley, journalist and filmmaker
Emma Garland, features editor at Vice UK
Catriona Innes, features director at Cosmopolitan 
Rhalou Allerhand, editor at Netdoctor 
Maya Goodfellow, author and writer 
Josie Long, comedian 
Ellie Mae O’Hagan, journalist 
Aimee Cliff, journalist
Ellen E Jones, journalist
Josie Sparrow, editor at New Socialist 
Hayley Minn, celebrity features editor for TI Media 
Elle Hunt, journalist 
Nicola Bitton, freelance broadcast TV editor 
Stephanie Soh, journalist and editor
Juliet Jacques, writer, filmmaker and former Guardian contributor 
Jasmine Andersson, staff writer at the i
Jess Austin, deputy communities editor at Metro 
Ione Gamble, founding editor-in-chief of Polyester 
Sophie Hemery, journalist and feminist activist 
Nabeelah Shabbir, journalist 
Erica Buist, journalist and author 
Caitlin Benedict, presenter 
Freya Watson, producer and director 
Rose Stokes, freelance journalist 
Alice Caldwell-Kelly, podcaster 
Teju Adeleye, journalist 
Sadhbh O'Sullivan, writer at Refinery29
Hannah Ewens, journalist at Vice
Political figures
Shaista Aziz, councillor and equalities campaigner 
Sue Lukes, Labour councillor for Highbury East
Linda Woodings, councillor for Nottingham City Council 
Osh Gantly, councillor for Highbury East 
Anwen Muston, councillor
Women’s and LGBT+ groups
Pari Dhillon, UK Black Pride director 
Leila Zadeh, UK Lesbian and Gay Immigration Group 
Naima Khan, programmes manager at Inclusive Mosque Initiative
Halima Gosai Hussain, programmes manager at Inclusive Mosque Initiative 
Hareem Ghani, member of the Khidr Collective and former NUS Women’s Officer
Lisa Power, lesbian feminist activist 
Laura Hurley, programme advisor at Safe Abortion Action Fund
Anne McVicker, director at Women’s Resource and Development Agency 
Rachel Powell, women’s sector lobbyist at Women’s Resource and Development Agency 
Elaine Crory, good relations worker at Women’s Resource and Development Agency
Naomi Connor and Emma Campbell, co-convenors on behalf of Alliance for Choice Belfast
Alexa Moore, director of TransgenderNI 
Lucia Blayke, director of London Trans+ Pride
Ashley Stephen, founder of Disabled Survivors Unite 
Guppi Bola, co-founder of Working on our Power
Calu Lema, founder of Queer Newham 
Hera Hussain, founder of CHAYN 
Jane Brown, North London Sisters Uncut
Ugla Stefanía Kristjönudóttir Jónsdóttir, co-director of My Genderation
Fox Fisher, co-director of My Genderation
Cara English, head of public engagement at Gendered Intelligence  
Miss Sahhara, content producer at TransValid
Tabitha Benjamin, Butch Please  
Campaigners and community groups
Clotilde Heinrich, ACRAN, feminist collective of the ENS Paris, who took part in the Césars action against Roman Polanski
Deborah Gold, chief executive of NAT (National AIDS Trust)
Silvia Petretti, CEO of Positively UK
Kristina Johansson, managing director of Solberga Foundation 
Fran Boait, executive director of Positive Money 
Nathalie McDermott, founder of On Road Media
Kerry Moscogiuri, director of supporter campaigning and communications of Amnesty International UK 
Rachel Diamond-Hunter, head of campaigns of 38 Degrees 
Alice Bell, author and campaigner 
Minnie Rahman, joint council for the Welfare of Immigrants
Zoe Gardner, joint council for the Welfare of Immigrants
Sophie Neuburg, executive director of MedAct
Zrinka Bralo, migrants' rights campaigner 
Yva Alexandrova, migrant rights activist
Melissa Céspedes del Sur, The Edge Fund
Lucy Mason, co-director of Tripod: Training for Creative Social Action
Eleanor Lisney, co-founder of Sisters of Frida
Hannah Martin, co-founder of Green New Deal UK
Bryony Nicholson, community manager of Centre for Entrepreneurs
Minda Burgos-Lukes, social justice and change consultant
Authors and Artists
Emma Frankland, artist 
Emily Reynolds, author 
Bethany Rutter, author 
Nathalie Olah, author and writer 
Amrou Al-Kadhi, author and performer 
Rudy Loewe, artist 
Chiron Stamp, artist 
Jeanie Finlay, filmmaker 
Brydie Lee-Kennedy, BAFTA-nominated TV writer 
Kajal Odedra, author and activist 
Sophie Jung, artist 
Rachael House, artist and gallery director 
Chardine Taylor-Stone, writer, activist and educator
Amelia Abraham, author and journalist 
Christine Berry, author 
Ilona sagar, filmmaker and artist 
Del LaGrace Volcano, artist, activist and educator
Rachel Weston, artist
Academics
Dr Arabella Stanger, University of Sussex 
Dr Julia Downes, lecturer in criminology at The Open University 
Marika Rose, senior lecturer in the department of theology, religion and philosophy at the University of Winchester 
Leanne Taylor, lecturer in social work and lecturer in mental health law 
Dr Melanie Richter-Montpetit, University of Sussex 
Cleo Madeleine, doctoral researcher and trans-rights activist at UEA 
Dr Tamara Tomic-Vajagic, University of Roehampton 
Professor Emejulu Akwugo, University of Warwick 
Violeta Ligraien Yañez, gender, migration and social justice at Lund University, Sweden 
Professor Vanita Sundaram 
Dr Jennifer Fraser, university director of student partnership at University of Westminster
Dr Clare Tebbutt, assistant professor in gender and women's studies at Trinity College Dublin 
Dr Kat Gupta, lecturer in English language and linguistics at University of Roehampton
Heather McKnight, University of Sussex 
Dr Annie Goh, artist and academic
Moss Anna G Ramberg, doctoral tutor and researcher in lawat University of Sussex 
Dr Marie Thompson 
Natalia Cecire, senior lecturer at University of Sussex 
Koshka Duff, assistant professor of philosophy at University of Nottingham 
Tanya Serisier, senior lecturer in criminology at Birkbeck College 
Dr Elizabeth Reed, academic and feminist 
Rachel O'Connell, lecturerat University of Sussex 
Dr Anne-Marie Angelo, senior lecturer in history, school of history, art history, and philosophy at University of Sussex
Dr Naaz Rashid, lecturer in media and cultural studies at University of Sussex 
Dr Stephanie Davis, academic and black feminist at University of Brighton
Dr Tanya Kant, lecturer in media and cultural studies at University of Sussex 
Natalie Fenton, professor of media and communications at Goldsmiths University of London
Dr Amy De’Ath, lecturer in contemporary literature and culture at King’s College London 
Dr Grietje Baars, senior lecturer at The City Law School University of London 
Professor Sally Hines, University of Sheffield 
CN Lester, author, performer and feminist academic
Nadine El-Enany, senior lecturer in law at Birkbeck College 
Dr Humaira Saeed
Ochi Reyes, lecturer at Westminster School of Arts 
Sarah Lamble, reader in criminology at Birkbeck
Others
Charlotte Bayes, business owner 
Sarah Woolley, writer and charity fundraiser 
Dr Michal Nachmany, Grantham Research Institute, LSE
Holly Falconer, photographer 
Jessica Glass, European finance director, Pembroke Real Estate 
Sherry Elbe, artist management 
Gillian Weaver 
Roanne Bardsley, screenwriter 
Clare Reddington, CEO at Watershed
Lola Oduba-Vine, chef and food stylist professional  
Rosie Fletcher 
Robyn Elton, senior account manager at CYOA Media 
Anuka Ramischwili-Schaefer, F(r)ictions founder 
Nazmia Jamal, teacher 
Tom Rasmussen, journalist and performer 
Lucy Caldicott, founder Change Out 
Cj Smith, trans-affirmative psychotherapist
Lizzie Robinson 
Rosie Wolfenden MBE, co-founder and managing director of Tatty Devine 
Allegra Galvin