Open letter to Board of Directors Equality Australia

From:  An Alliance of Australian lesbian, women’s and children’s rights organisations

Dear Directors of the Board of Equality Australia,

We the undersigned represent a broad alliance of lesbian and women’s rights organisations in Australia who have come together to invite Equality Australia to participate in a mediated round table discussion over the substantive issues that have arisen from our differing positions concerning transgender and women’s rights. 

Debate and controversy over the conflict of rights in this area continues to unfold in Australian society on a daily basis, and the need for a more nuanced and public debate has become apparent.  

Recently, we have seen numerous episodes of protest connected to this conflict. The ‘Let Women Speak’ tour organised by Standing For Women saw women wanting to speak peacefully and unmolested at public events subjected to abusive, aggressive, and sometimes violent behaviour from trans activists. Not long after, we saw trans activists themselves become the target of violence when they were attacked by a large group of local people outside a church in Belfield in Sydney. 

In Australia, threats of violence — and now, troublingly, it seems, actual violence against women— are occurring in connection with, and to the detriment of, emerging discourses relating to the conflict of rights. These incidents mirror significant and alarming trends occurring also overseas.

The  signatories to this letter wish to reiterate our ongoing commitment to peaceful, transparent, evidence-based dialogue and debate both in public and private on these matters. Our concerns are, however, that if greater community consultation is not undertaken at the earliest opportunity, then these dangerous trends may increase in frequency and severity, causing harm to both individuals who petition to make their voices heard, and to organisations as we seek to represent our constituents’ rights and interests.

At this juncture, we believe it is timely to extend an invitation to discuss with Equality Australia our respective concerns in an attempt to reach mutual respect for our divergent views and to have an open dialogue as to how we can better achieve a positive outcome for those in our corresponding communities.

We cordially, and in good faith, invite representatives of Equality Australia’s Board of Directors to meet with representatives of our own groups for mediated discussions on how we can ensure that our respective groups can meet their advocacy commitments in a culture of fairness, respect, and safety. 

We look forward to hearing from you.

Yours Faithfully,

Anna Shaman – Women Speak Tasmania

Silver Moon – LGB Tasmania

Lynne Robertson – Safeguarding Children in Schools Tasmania

Anna McCormack – IWD Brisbane Meanjin

Janet Fraser – NSW Women’s Guild

Michelle Uriarau – Mana Wahine Korero

Sonia Stoneman – Women’s Action Group

Kat Karena – LGB Defence

Tess Hackett – Active Watchful Waiting

Sall Grover – Giggle for Girls Pty Ltd

Stassja Frei – Coalition for Biological Reality

Katherine Deves – Save Women’s Sports Australasia

Rachel Wong – Women’s Forum Australia