It started as many a modern day brouhaha before… with a single tweet. This time from UK’s Labour Party…
Trans and non-binary Labour members have come together to launch the Labour Campaign for Trans Rights; we are fighting for trans rights and liberation through the Labour Party. We urge all trans Labour members and allies to sign our pledges here:https://t.co/4zl8TsFjkZ pic.twitter.com/LOinMWgr8a
— Labour Campaign for Trans Rights (@Labour_Trans) February 10, 2020
Labour Campaign for Trans Rights is the Party’s manifesto for Trans inclusion. On the surface, it sounds like a good idea, but some of the 12 points are a source of contention:
- Accept that trans women are women, trans men are men, and non-binary people are non-binary. [effectively making same-‘sex’ attraction and ‘women’ only spaces redundant]
- Organise and fight against transphobic organisations such as Woman’s Place UK, LGB Alliance and other trans-exclusionist hate groups. [Women’s Place UK and LGB Alliance are groups that formed to discuss the impact of Trans ‘rights’ on women’s and LGB rights]10. Support the expulsion from the Labour Party of those who express bigoted, transphobic views. [ie anyone who doesn’t believe trans women are women]
11.Support reform of the Gender Recognition Act to improve transgender rights, as well as supporting policies which would improve trans people’s access to necessary healthcare, housing, and employment. [ie self ID]
Almost immediately, Labour Party members, predominately women, responded and #ExpelMe went viral.
Dr. Jane Clare Jones @janeclarejones · Feb 12
I am a member of the Labour Party. I believe mammals are sexed male and female. I believe that female people are subject to sex-based oppression and that sex is politically important. #ExpelMe #TwoPlusTwoEqualsFour
Maya Forstater @MForstater · Feb 12
I am a member of the Labour Party I spoke at @Womans_Place_UK #WomensLib2020 I do not believe male people can be women If “trans rights” means males in women’s single sex spaces, sports & associations there is a conflict w women’s rights #expelme
Kathleen Stock @Docstockk · Feb 12
I support @Womans_Place_UK and @AllianceLGB against this horrible public defamation. I also support my own and other women’s right to talk about the erosion of their protections, spaces, and words to refer to themselves in the face of narrow, controlling trans activism. #ExpelMe
Sonia Poulton @SoniaPoulton · 20h
Imagine this: “Men, we are taking your right to speak out & will punish you for doing so. We will ban the words that describe your biology & your experience. You cannot meet without us & we will teach children that to say no is to be a bigot.” That’s happened to women. #ExpelMe
Some are in favour of the manifesto:
Owen Jones @OwenJones84 · Feb 12
If you oppose trans rights, please do just resign your Labour membership. Labour exists to fight and overcome all oppression and bigotry and you have no place whatsoever in the party. Several right-wing newspapers will let you complain about how silenced you are. Bye! #ExpelMe
The great Labour expulsion is reminiscent of the Suffragettes. Once again, women are fighting discrimination on the basis of sex. History repeats.
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