Close to 10,000 cisgender women in the UK have signed a petition rejecting the idea that excluding transgender women from single-sex spaces is necessary to ensure their safety.
The petition, titled Not in Our Name, was launched on 26 May by a group of cis women to directly oppose rhetoric used by trans-exclusionary movements and some public bodies. The petition’s message is clear: trans women are not a threat to cis women, and those pushing exclusionary narratives “do not speak for us”.
The signatories called for unity among all women and highlighted the real sources of danger. “Cisgender men who abuse their power are the real threat,” the petition states.
It continues: “Throughout our lives, we have endured harassment, discrimination, violence and abuse in countless forms: from childhood catcalls to workplace discrimination, from domestic violence to sexual assault, from being silenced in boardrooms to being blamed for crimes committed against us.
“We know intimately what the real threat to women looks like.”
Arguments made by trans-exclusionary advocates often centre on the idea that the presence of trans women in single-sex spaces jeopardises the safety of cis women. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is among those calling for changes that would reduce trans people’s access to gendered facilities, despite limited evidence that such changes enhance safety.
One controversial proposal suggests that trans people carry a passport to access gender-specific services, a policy critics say is discriminatory and impractical.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has also been criticised for his remarks on transgender identity. In April, he stated he does not believe trans women are “real women”, further fuelling debate and backlash from equality advocates.
The Not in Our Name petition cites sobering statistics from the Femicide Census, which found that one woman is killed by a man every three days in the UK. It argues that scapegoating trans women only serves to deflect attention from the true danger—male violence.
“Enough scapegoating of trans women by politicians who refuse to confront male violence,” the petition reads. “Enough media sensationalism that profits from hatred while women of all backgrounds suffer real harm. Enough false feminism that abandons the most vulnerable women, leaving all women at greater risk.
“We will speak for ourselves. We stand with our trans siblings. We demand better.”
Signatories also shared personal reflections on why they supported the campaign.
Trish, from Surrey, wrote: “I truly don’t know what to say, I cannot believe this petition is even needed. Trans women are not a threat to anyone, they are among the most marginalised in society and deserve to be loved and protected.”
Anna, from Derbyshire, added: “[I and] most cis women I know have experienced sexual harassment and abuse at the hands of cis men throughout our lives. Trans women are also vulnerable (some would argue more so) to the same abuse by cis men. They pose no threat.”
The petition also referenced global data highlighting the severity of anti-trans violence. Between 2008 and 2024, more than 5,000 trans people were reported murdered worldwide. In the UK alone, 145,214 hate crimes were reported against trans individuals in 2022–2023.
“This should horrify any society that claims to value human life,” the petition concludes. “Trans people are denied healthcare, housing and employment. They are vilified for existing while cisgender women face our greatest threats from men who face no such scrutiny.
“The real threat to women has never been trans women seeking to live their lives with dignity. The real threat remains what it has always been: a culture that enables male violence and blames everyone except the men who perpetrate it.”
