Dear Editor,

We, the undersigned, have a variety of positions about proposed changes to the Gender Recognition Act. Some of us have not yet fully formed our opinions.

We are calling for action within our movement to allow debate to take place over proposed changes to the Act.

You may be aware that on April 13 this year, an activist, Tara Wood was convicted of the assault by beating of Maria MacLachlan, a 60-year-old woman who had gathered with others in order to attend a meeting at which they could discuss the potential impact on women and girls of such a change to the law.

On March 8, an incident also occurred on a Bectu picket line in which trans activists, with no connection to the industrial dispute itself, mobbed and verbally attacked a female trade union member on the basis of having recognised her as an attendee at a similar meeting.

And in late April women in Bristol looking to meet and discuss changes to the Gender Recognition Act were met with masked activists blocking entrances to the venue, and deliberately intimidating those wishing to go inside.

More recently, a meeting organised by Woman’s Place UK was targeted with a bomb threat which Hastings Police are investigating as a serious incident.

These cases are part of systematic attempts to shut down meetings organised by women at which they can discuss potential legislative changes and the impact these may have on any sex-based rights already enshrined in law.

They draw the whole of our progressive movement into disrepute.

Some trans rights activists even continue to justify the use of violence, meaning that many women are simply too frightened to attend meetings that are both public and lawful in order that they may discuss their own rights.

Other women, including ordinary women concerned for their rights, as well as those active within the trade union movement and other political campaigns, are also now anxious and fearful that they will be subjected to such attacks when engaging in any political activity, meetings, or protests.

We are sure that, whatever your view regarding the issues around the Gender Recognition Act, you will agree that it is unacceptable for women to be made scared to engage in political life.

We, the undersigned, publicly and unequivocally condemn the use of violence or tactics of intimidation on this issue.

Yours sincerely,

Judith Green

Ruth Serwotka

Kiri Tunks

Lucy Masoud

Karen Ingala Smith

Lindsey German

Paula Lamont

Julie Bindel

Helen Steel

Gill Butler

Mark Serwotka

Mike Clancy

Vicky Knight

Tony Burke

Gail Cartmail

Susan Matthews

Len McCluskey

Sean McGovern

Maggie Ryan

Jane Stewart

Steve Turner

Tony Woodhouse

Philipa Harvey

Sarah Johnson

Dave Harvey

Heather McKenzie

Marilyn Bater

Paul Embery

Jeni Harvey

Julia Bard

Lisa-Marie Taylor

Pilgrim Tucker

Mary Davis

Jane Shallice

Rebecca Lush

Emma Wilkes

Charlie Dacke

Sybil Cock

Gill Parke

Ann Sinnott

Harriet Wistrich

Cllr Julie Davies

Maria MacLachlan

Nic Williams

Debbie Epstein

Kristina Jayne Harrison

Kay Green

Rosie Brocklehurst

Carolyn Thomas

Philippa Clark

Christiane Ohsan

Mary Adossides

Meirian Jump

Miriam David

Trish Lavelle

Megan Dobney

Anita Halpin

Carolyn Jones

Kath Campbell

Rachel Burns

Marj Mayo

Annette Mansell Green

Hilda Palmer

Janet Newsham

Annie Gwilym Walker

Alice Bondi

Helena Coates

Ceri Williams

Debbie Hayton

Gill Knight

Eleanor Hill

Bronwen Davies

Pam Isherwood

Hayley Mullen

Sybil Grundberg

Anne Morch

Jane Galloway

Diane Jones

Karen Broady

Emma Dolan

Jan Pemberton

Beth Aze

Louise Hersee

Naomi Grint

Emma Aynsley

Roy Wilkes

Holly Smith

Marjorie Caw

Catherine Bjarnason

Charlotte Carson

Gerald Clark

Carole Regan

Bernard Regan

John Millington

Therese O’Meara

Amanda MacLean

Gwenan Richards

Jayne Egerton

Kim Thomas

Helen Saxby

Marion L Calder

Gwenda Owen

Hannah Tahir

Kate Graham

Rebecca Heath

Catherine Muller

Radha Burgess

Lisa Bishop

Emma Salmon

Jan Pemberton

Lynne Caffrey

Becky Vaughn

Jan Baxter

Kate Jerrold

Jennifer James

Cllr Amy Brookes

Elizabeth Carola

Marta Garcia de la Vega

Ruth Gordon

Lorraine Roberts

Sona Mahtani

Caroline Spry

Ann McTaggart

Denise Bennett

Cllr Bob Walsh

Sue Lent

Helen Watts

Emma Barraclough

Beth Vennart

Ruth Conlock

Emma Flynn

Cathy Devine

Barbara Hughes

Louise Paine

Prue Plumridge

Sarah Tanburn

Donna Stevenson

Dinah Mulholland

Olivia Palmer

Hannah Laurel

Sandra Easton-Lawrence

Helen Soutar

Paula Dauncey

Tessa McInnes

Lynn Alderson

Abigail Rowland

Christian Stahle

Barbara Brookes

Hilary Adams

Fiona English

Frankie Rickford

Julie Timbrell

Jess Goldie