Open Letters: 2023
Open Letters on sex and gender debate - 2023
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NZ ‘LGBTQIA+ community in dire need’ of blasphemy laws!
20 Jan 2023
To: Kiri Allan, New Zealand Justice minister & NZ Labour MPs
From: Dudley Benson (Co-director Woof!, Ōtepoti) et al and including Auckland Pride & Anti-fascist Ōtepoti
Subject: ‘A plea to the government not to exclude the LGBTQIA+ community from the proposed hate speech law reform.’
‘Insufficient’ coverage of ‘trans’ people at New York Times
15 Feb 2023
To: New York Times
From: From GLAAD - LGBTQ and allied leaders and organizations
Subject: Calling on the New York Times to improve their coverage of transgender people
Editorial bias against ‘trans’ people at New York Times
The following letter, including updates, can be found in the above link on the same page, with most recent first. See the original webpage here.
15 Feb 2023
To: Phil E Corbett, associate managing editor for standards at NYT
From: a collective 1200 NYT contributors and signed by 20,000 media workers, subscribers, and readers of the NYT
Subject: “serious concerns about editorial bias in the newspaper’s reporting on transgender, non-binary, and gender nonconforming people.”
The importance of the word “woman” in women’s health
23 Feb 2023
To: NHS chiefs
From: Clinical Advisory Network on Sex and Gender
Subject: The importance of the word “woman” in communication about women’s health
Keep Posie Parker out of NZ
21 March 2023
To: Minister of Immigration New Zealand
From: Byron Clark
Subject: "An open letter to the Minister of Immigration about anti-trans activist Posie Parker" - appealing to deny Posie Parker AKA Kellie-Jay Keen a visa defaming her as a 'nazi'
NZ must police without fear or favour
26 March 2023
To: New Zealand Police
From: Free Speech Union
Subject: The letter condemns the inaction of New Zealand police at a Let Women Speak rally in Auckland. It calls on the police to acknowledge their failure and reassert that they will protect those they deem to have controversial views.
Celebrate International Transgender Day of Visibility
28 March 2023
To: “To the trans and gender nonconforming individuals reading this”
From: Primary Healthcare: The Project
Subject: "you are seen and you are valid."
Mothers of LGBTQ+ individuals appeal
28 March 2023
To: Ugandan President Museveni
From: Mothers of LGBTQ+ individuals
Subject: Open Letter to President Museveni from mothers of LGBTQ+ individuals requesting not to assent to Anti- Homosexuality Bill, and enact laws that protect all children from all forms of violence and discrimination.
Elite support for the destruction of women’s sport
10 April 2023
To: USA government
From: Pro, Olympic and Paralympic Athletes
Subject: Against HR734 (which would stipulate that Title IX compliance requires a federal ban of men and boys and women from participating in sports in opposite sex categories)
'LGBTIQA' Greens demand EHRC 'protect trans'
15 April 2023
To: Baroness Faulkner, EHRC
From: 'LGBTIQA+' Greens
Subject: "LGBTIQA+ Greens call on the Equality and Human Rights Commission to "reverse course and create guidance that protects trans people rather than simply ostracising them"
TUC demand no amendments to definition of sex
28 April 2023
To: Kemi Badenoch, UK Secretary of State for the Dept of Business and Trade, and Minister for Women and Equalities
From: Trade Union Congress
Subject: Do not make amendments to the Equality Act on the current definition of sex
Editorial bias concerns about Ken Zucker on ‘LGBTQ+’ topics
5 May 2023
To: International Academy of Sex Research (IASR) and accompanying journal, ‘Archives of sexual behavior [sic]’
From: A group of researchers who work in areas under the journal’s scope
Subject: The researchers state that they have lost confidence in the journal’s editor, Dr Kenneth Zucker, due to the journal routinely publishing articles “on LGBTQ+ topics” that in their view “did not adhere to the highest standards of intellectual integrity and publication ethics, raising concerns over editorial bias.”
Universities must protect students from Kathleen Stock!
May 2023
To: The media and university
From: Oxford University LGBTQ+ Society
Subject: Kathleen Stock invite: “Universities must protect trans students”
‘Deep concern’ with response given to Minister for Women on definition of sex
15 May 2023
To: Baroness Faulkner
From: LGBT Foundation
Subject: The letter expresses “deep concern” with the response given to Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch MP (Minister for Women and Equalities) and “urgently calls” for the guidance issued to be retracted, and replaced by a redraft centring gender identity
Dr Cass’ plans are not in UK transgender patients’ best interest
16 May 2023
To: Dr Cass
From: Helen Webberley at GenderGP
Subject: Dr Helen Webberley response to Dr Cass’s journal entry letter.
‘LGBTQI+’ and the war in Ukraine
17 May 2023
From: Embassy of the United States of America in Poland.
Subject: ‘Acknowledging the efforts of the LGBTQI+ community’s contributions to supporting those fleeing the war in Ukraine’ and instilling the need to 'shield communities in need of protection from verbal and physical abuse and hate speech’.
‘No place for anti-trans agendas at the UN’
18 May 2023
To: United Nations
From: Organised by Association of Women’s Rights in Development and signed by 550 organisations and 844 people
Subject: “Grave concerns” of the current UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, Reem Alsalem.
‘Heartbreak’ for Texas church & parents who can’t irreversibly damage their children
June 2023
To: Public leaders in Texas & across the globe
From: United Church of Christ Clergy and 'Leaders for People of Trans or Nonbinary Experience in Texas'
Subject: ‘Support for People of Trans or Nonbinary Experience in Texas. It 'breaks our heart' that public leaders in Texas have not written lies into law and policy and has issued a directive to criminalize parents who irreversibly damage their children.
Two teenage girls appeal to Education secretary, Gillian Keegan
23 June 2023
To: Gillian Keegan, UK Education secretary
From: Two 14-year-old girls
Subject: They want to contribute to the discussion on the forth coming 'trans' guidance for schools and urge the minister to value the dignity and safety of girls in secondary schools.
Social media platforms 'massive systemic failure' to censor facts
27 June 2023
To: Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, and Twitter
From: LGBTQ Celebrities & Allies
Subject: Stop the Flow of Anti-Trans Hate & Malicious Disinformation About Trans Healthcare
TV show accused of lack of balance on 'gender affirming care'
28 June 2023
To: Media Watch TV show Tim Latham and Paul Barry
From: 20 LGBTQIA+ community organisations
Subject: The writers are 'disappointed in the lack of accuracy, balance, and fairness in Monday night's segment.. and her article about gender affirming care'
Solidarity with men who are ‘mothers’ & 'breastfeed'
7th July 2023
From: We Level Up
Subject: A petition set up by 'feminists & mothers' & signed by 200 people in 'solidarity' with 'Mika' Minio-Paluello (a man who identifies as a woman) and 'with every mother who is doing their best for their children'. 'Mika' caused controversy when appearing on a UK News programme speaking about how rising water bills were “tough if you're a mum”. 'Mika' also posted pictures of himself with an infant pressed into his chest and claimed he was 'breastfeeding' which caused public outcry, with many labelling it child abuse.
Experts say no to Endo society
13 July 2023
To: Editor Wall Street Journal
From: '21 leading experts on paediatric gender medicine from 8 countries'
Subject: Expressing disagreement with The Endocrinologist Society and its new president Stephen Hammes over the treatment of youth 'gender dysphoria'.
Education official hit out 'transphobic' civil service guidelines
15 July 2023
To: Susan Acland-Hood, the DfE’s permanent secretary,
From: DfE 'LGBT+' Network
Subject: Education department’s LGBT+ Network publishes a letter calling Whitehall policy ‘completely unacceptable as well as unlawful’
Charities '#StandWithTrans'
3 July 2023
From: Charity leaders
Subject: 'Stand With Trans is a campaign created and run by Charity So Straight. We want to reiterate our absolute commitment to supporting the rights of our trans, non-binary, and gender diverse communities. We invite you to join us and say a firm NO to anti-trans hate'
Appeal for NZ safety from Kellie-Jay Keen
1 Aug 2023
To: Prime Minister of New Zealand
From: Kellie-Jay Keen
Subject: Kellie-Jay Keen asks assurance of her safety from the Prime Minister as she looks to return to New Zealand for a court hearing regarding the assault she and other women were subject to at her event in Auckland.
Respect ‘queer and trans youth’
13 Sept 2023
To: Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education, Ottawa From: LGBT Youthline
Subject: “We urge you to uphold school boards’ current policies and practices that respect and support queer and trans youth, and to make them standard throughout the province.”
Stop banning LGBTQ+ books
19 Sept 2023
To: "Book banners across the country!"
From: 150+ celebrities including Judy Blume, Ariana Grande, Roxane Gay, Amanda Gorman, Billy Porter, Chelsea Handler, Jodi Picoult, Gabrielle Union, Sharon Stone
Subject: Through book challenges and bans, the far right is attempting to erase LGBTQ+ people and people of color—and we will not let them succeed.
Appealing to the Prime Minister for persecution protection for LGBTQ+
3 Oct 2023
To: Rishi Sunak
From: Stonewall and a coalition of human rights orgs
Subject: Asking the Prime Minister to ‘reaffirm the UK’s commitment to the protection of the rights of LGBTQ+ people and women around the world’.
EDI in Science
5 Oct 2023
To: Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology,
From: Dr Katharine Hubbard et al. 2054 people signed, including 1851 scientists/science-related areas.
Subject: “Anger and disappointment” at a speech given by the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology at the Conservative Party Conference 2023, and accompanying posters and social media posts.
Sex Matters urge Prime minister to #DefendUs
9th Nov 2023
To: UK Prime Minister
From: Sex Matters & signed by 15,000 people
Subject: Asks the Prime Minister to #DefendUs and take urgent action to halt the escalating campaign of violence and intimidation against women in the name of “trans rights”.
Counselling guidance regarding so-called gender-critical’ views
12 Nov 2023
To: UKCP
From: over 100 registered therapists and trainee therapists, 'some of whom are trans, non-binary and/or gender-expansive people' and allies
Subject: A response to the recently published statement on the law regarding 'so-called ‘gender-critical’ views and its implications for the practice of psychotherapy and psychotherapeutic counselling'.
Academic experiments and child safeguarding
13 Nov 2023
To: Professor Arif Ahmed, Director for Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom at the Office for Students
From: Safe Schools Alliance
Subject: To raise concerns relating to the influence of experimental academic discourse on public policy.
Reem Asalem stands with Moira Deeming
23 Nov 2023
To: Government of Australia
From: Reem Alsalem
Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls
Subject: Letter to Australia regarding expulsion of & defamatory accusations against Moira Deeming MP from Parliamentary Liberal Party (PLP) for participating in a “Let Women Speak” rally
A plea to Sandi Toksvig to understand women are fully human
25 Nov 2023
To: Sandi Toksvig
From: Victoria G
Subject: ‘An empassioned plea to see women as fully human.’
Violence against women campaign centres 'trans' rights placards
30th Nov 2023
To: Glasgow's women library
From: Scottish Lesbians, For Women Scotland & others
Subject: Concerns about Glasgow Women’s Library’s response to the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the related 16 Days of Activism campaign and their exhibition which contained trans rights placards
Letter to public authority leaders from Kemi Badenoch
December 2023
To: Public authority leaders
From: Kemi Badenoch, Minister for Women and Equalities
Subject: A reminder of the 9 protected characteristics in Equality Act 2010 and that everyone is protected by it.