A group of cisgender women have come together under the banner “Not in Our Name”, publicly rejecting the media and political narrative that claims to represent all women in the debate over transgender rights.
Their collective open letter, published in collaboration with the Good Law Project, has garnered over 61,500 signatures so far — including high-profile names such as singer Beverley Knight, musician Kate Nash, and Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer MP.
The initiative was launched to coincide with Transgender Awareness Week (13–19 November). One member of the group, who wished to remain anonymous, spoke to PinkNews about the purpose behind the campaign.
‘It is a voice that is missing from the conversation’
The spokesperson explained the letter’s intent: to visibly demonstrate that many cisgender women — those who are not transgender — do in fact support the trans community. “We’re everyday people who fundamentally believe all humans should have access to certain spaces and be treated with dignity and respect,” she said.
The letter was signed exclusively by cisgender women to challenge the notion that gender-critical voices speak for them all.
“The women with the strongest views, who tend to be gender critical, have risen to the surface and become emblematic of what women think. But that is not us.”
She added: “It’s not acceptable, and we do not believe that to be representative of the majority of women, despite certain media pushing the argument that supporting trans women means being against cisgender women.”
‘Gender critical isn’t the norm’
According to the collective, the trans community has become a symbolic scapegoat — “a totem” — for broader societal issues. Yet, they argue, one can be both supportive of trans rights and pro-woman.
Referencing prominent gender-critical voices, including Harry Potter author JK Rowling, the spokesperson questioned why public figures would use their platforms “to harm people”. She emphasised: “Being gender critical isn’t the norm and being inclusive of trans people – and trans women in particular – isn’t anti-woman. This is a narrative that is being pushed in order to create division and it’s one that we reject.”
While acknowledging that gender-critical women are entitled to their views, she also noted a lack of understanding within that movement. “There’s an inability to understand that, as humans, we come in all shapes and sizes,” she said. “This letter is our way of saying: this is not how most women feel.”
In response to actress Keira Knightley’s recent remark that she was unaware of Rowling’s stance — which sparked significant backlash — the collective member described the comment as “clumsy” and “unkind,” though likely just a “gut reaction”. She added, “Unfortunately, we’ve come to a place in society where you can’t stay out of the conversation.”
‘Stop scapegoating minorities’
The letter urges a shift in focus — from attacking marginalised groups to addressing the real issues that affect women. “Stop scapegoating minorities and put the focus back on the things that are really harming women,” she said.
Statistics support the need for that shift. In the year ending March 2024, over 1.6 million women in England and Wales experienced domestic abuse, according to the Crime Survey. Home Office data from 2018 also found that 89 per cent of adults prosecuted for sexual offences were men.
“Yes, women face massive challenges,” she said. “But statistically, it’s not the trans community that are causing the problems. We have had enough.”
Despite ongoing hostility and misinformation, the group remains optimistic. They point to leaders like New York mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and UK Green Party leader Zack Polanski as examples of political figures unafraid to stand up for trans rights.
“These are two openly vocal allies who are not afraid to call out misinformation and stand up against the bullies,” she said.
