More than 456 women who represent entertainment, business, politics, activism and music have come together and signed a letter. This was organized by activist Raquel Willis timed to today’s Transgender Day of Visibility and the end of Women’s History Month.
The letter comes during a time when the transgender community has come under attack again. This happened in Arkansas where the senate passed a bill on Monday that demanded to ban the access to gender-affirming care for transgender youth.
The letter mentions that it is time for the long assaults against trans women and girls to end. It further adds that lawmakers have worked to strip trans women of their civil liberties. The letter reads, “For far too long, lawmakers have worked to strip trans women of their civil liberties — in 2021, once again, we’ve seen a wave of bigoted governmental policies and legislation. Many of these laws target the rights of girls to play school sports or criminalize doctors for treating trans youth and their families.”
Further, the letter mentions that these efforts are also aided by self-identified women described as “feminists”. It explains that these women have been promoting damaging and violent ideas about trans people; for years in the United States and internationally. The letter then explained how these actions are not “feminist at all”; and shared how true feminists don’t wish to limit any woman’s identity or freedom to fully be herself.
Also Read: Harry Potter Fan Sites Condemn J.K. Rowling’s Trans Stance
“We have more language and understanding than ever before..”
It further explained, “Their vitriol is, in fact, not feminist at all. True feminists do not wish to limit any woman’s identity or freedom to fully be herself. Allowing transphobic rhetoric to go unchecked also strengthens the legislative efforts of anti-trans politicians — who now cloak their bigotry in language about protecting or supporting women.”
The powerful females who have signed the letter include Regina King, Selena Gomez, Halle Berry, Gloria Steinem; Chelsea Clinton, Gabrielle Union, Kathryn Hahn, Wanda Sykes, Janelle Monae; Bella Hadid, Patricia Arquette, Brie Larson, Laverne Cox, Julianne Moore, Cynthia Erivo, Judith Light; Amy Schumer, Cara Delevingne, Lena Waithe, Sarah Paulson, Alison Brie, Alyssa Milano; Lilly Singh, Beanie Feldstein, Christina Ricci, Melissa Etheridge, Lena Dunham; Mayim Bialik, Amiyah Scott, among many others.
There are also leaders who are also backing the cause from national organizations including Time’s Up, Me Too, Women’s March, Planned Parenthood; Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls, Ms. Foundation, GLAAD, LGBTQ Task Force, 3% Movement, National Women’s Law Center; GLSEN, Athlete Ally, National Center for Lesbian Rights, Lesbians Who Tech, and others.
The letter further continues as it explains their continuation to reckon with a history that has often excluded women of color or of different sexual orientations; body types, socioeconomic statuses, religions and regions, and who are disabled. It further explained the feminist movement has expanded largely in “beautiful and powerful ways”.
The letter reads, “We continue to reckon with a history that has often excluded women of color; of different sexual orientations, socioeconomic statuses, ages, body types, religions and regions, and who are disabled. However, the feminist movement has largely expanded in beautiful and powerful ways. We have more language and understanding than ever before; to describe how our unique experiences are threaded in the larger tapestry of womanhood.
“We all must fight against the unnecessary and unethical barriers placed on trans women and girls by lawmakers; and those who co-opt the feminist label in the name of division and hatred. Our feminism must be unapologetically expansive so that we can leave the door open for future generations,” concludes the letter.
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