In response to the “Labour Women’s Declaration”
The Labour Representation Committee wants to make a clear response to the development of a 7-point document named the “Labour Women’s Declaration”, which became visible in the run up to Labour Women’s’ conference 2021 and subsequently.
Although this declaration is relatively new it has a worrying number of things in common with other pre-existing organisations which counterpose what they call ‘sex based rights’ to rights for all women including trans women.
We don’t believe the oppression of women derives primarily from our biology but from (anti-)social factors which lead to women being treated as second class.
As expressed in the motion carried at the LRC AGM 2019, the LRC supports the empowerment of trans, non-binary and intersex people in all aspects of society including at work. Statistics and personal testimony make clear that trans people suffer appalling violence at home and on the streets and discrimination at work.
We stand for the right of all women (including trans women) to enjoy safety and freedom from discrimination. We continue to support the protection of women and girls and the campaigning around issues of gender-based violence and oppression.
Many parts of the Labour movement have a proud history of supporting liberation struggles and enabling members to self-identify whether that is being black, disabled, LGBT+ or women. We also support a social, rather than a medical, model of gender recognition in order to challenge repressive gender stereotypes that perpetuate discrimination. This is consistent with an intersectional approach to other forms of oppression.
We are aware that the discussions around gender on the Left have become divisive and hostile, because they do not start from a very clear statement that affirms that there is no contradiction between supporting the rights of trans people and those of all women. These issues can get seen as mutually exclusive. And the unfortunate subtext from some of these narratives is “of course I support the right to trans self-ID; I just don’t want to encounter trans people in my designated space”.
Trade unions and the left more generally have a responsibility to promote equality and ensure that all provisions of the Equality Act are implemented and observed in the sectors where we organise. This includes ending all forms of discrimination, bigotry and stereotyping.
The sort of narrative promoted by the Labour Women’ declaration is very much out of step and unwelcome in moving all people forward to combat all forms of oppression and fight for a society for the Many not the Few.
