Dear Lisa Nandy
Labour LGB represents many lesbian, gay and bisexual Labour Party members who are active within the party and in our communities. It has recently been drawn to our attention that you attended your local pride event wearing a ‘Protect the Dolls’ t-shirt.
We want you to understand why we find this upsetting and disappointing.
This slogan is being used, as you know, to imply disagreement with the Supreme Court definition of a woman as a biological female. By wearing this you imply:
- that transwomen (males who identify as women) should be permitted to serve their sentences in women’s prisons
- that transwomen should be admitted into women’s refuges (refuges from men) and other protected women-only spaces
- that lesbians should be required to include transwomen in their dating pools, social events and other exclusively lesbian spaces
- and that transwomen should be allowed to play in women’s sports.
This last belief is particularly alarming given that your cabinet brief includes sport. The recent women’s Euros would have been very different in terms of fairness and outcome, had there been one, three or even eleven transwomen in any of the teams. Similarly, surely you don’t believe that the upcoming Women’s Rugby World Cup should include transwomen as well?
This would have been the inevitable outcome had the definition of women for all purposes been extended to include males. We would like you to clarify your position on trans-identifying males competing in women’s sport.
Labour LGB completely acknowledges the particular challenges faced by those with the protected characteristic of gender reassignment and we believe that they should be treated with respect and dignity. However, that should not be at the cost of respect for women and their need for their own spaces, respect for lesbians and their need to exclude those with male bodies in certain scenarios, and respect for gender non-conforming children who are likely to grow up to be happy and healthy lesbian, gay or bisexual adults.
We ask that you reflect on these issues and recognise the harms caused by a disregard for women’s rights and the rights of lesbians and children.
The slogan ‘Protect the Dolls’, is extremely offensive to many women and even to some males who are protected by gender reassignment. It implies the word “doll” is synonymous
with the word woman or transwoman, and that the latter need protection from the law of the land. These views are not shared by the majority of Labour voters and it is wrong to inflame and incite what is now widely recognised as a conflict of rights where bridges must be built. It also shows a continuing disinterest in trans-identified females.
Above all, you hold a position of great responsibility and influence and should be setting the standard for upholding the law as it has now been clarified by the Supreme Court. It is important that you wield that influence with complete impartiality, not favouring one tiny minority group over the rights of all others.
Yours sincerely
Email: Labourlgb@gmail.com
