This open letter, signed by prominent women leaders from across Australian public life, will be released publicly to highlight the strong and widespread support for trans inclusion.

Women Together  

In recent years, there has been a concerted campaign to deny some women recognition, dignity and the right to be treated equally because they are trans.  

Trans and gender diverse people want nothing more than the same chance to live well, have a job that supports them and a house they feel safe in. Just like all women, they deserve to be accepted, treated with respect and have agency over their own bodies. 

None of this undermines the safety of women, or the protection and advancement of our rights — in fact it only underlines and advances it. 
 
Attacking trans women does nothing to address the real problems all women face, including gender equality, pay equity and the devastating prevalence of domestic and family violence.  

To this point it is worth noting trans women experience extraordinary rates of sexual assault and discrimination — most often at the hands of men — and are among the most likely in our society to experience violence and harassment, including from intimate partners.  

We share these struggles with trans women because we are all women. We all have the right to make decisions about our own bodies, to not be discriminated against, and to feel safe.  

Those who continue to single out and target trans people do not speak for all women, nor do they reflect the values of fairness and decency that most Australians see as central to who we are. 

Every one of us should be able to participate in public life on equal terms. We the signatories support the safety, rights and wellbeing of all women.