‘I desire you would Remember the ladies … Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the husbands. Remember, all men would be tyrants if they could. If particular care and attention is not paid to the ladies, we are determined to foment a rebellion and will not hold ourselves bound by any laws in which we have no voice or representation.” (Letter from Abigail Adams to John Adams, 1776).

By this I mean that in promoting the concept of “gender identity” (a nonscientific/non-evidence-based belief, like a religion) and putting it into law and policy, thus abolishing the concept of biological sex, the Democrats are decimating the sex-based rights of women and girls. They are ignoring the fact that females fought for decades to establish sex-segregated spaces that would allow us to participate in public life and be safe from male violence in spaces where we are vulnerable. These laws and policies are eliminating females’ boundaries and erasing us as a sex class.

Biological sex is binary and immutable. Whether someone is female or male is a matter of reality, not belief, and cannot be changed, despite academia’s post-modern queer theory acrobatics and manipulation of language that helped create this harmful ideology.

Males can “feel” like females, perform femininity, get hormones and surgeries, but none of this makes them women. Therefore, when they are allowed entrance into our spaces, like prisons, rape crisis and domestic violence shelters, changing rooms and bathrooms, they are still males and can pose the same threat to us as they always have. (See reduxx.info for example). For the safety of girls and women, and to reinstate our sex-based rights, we must end the lie of self I.D. and “gender identity” in law and policy.

I am a lesbian, and appreciate that many support the LGB community. Our sexual orientation is based on the recognition of biological sex. We do not take away anyone’s rights by being lesbian or gay. On the other hand, “trans” identity is based on sex stereotypes and appropriation of the opposite sex’s characteristics.

When males “claim” a female identity, they also claim the right to access our spaces and our sports, thus nullifying the rights of females to gain equality and opportunity. In addition, LGB has little in common with the TQ and should not be linked through forced teaming. This coupling was planned by trans activists (see yogyakartaprinciples.org) in order to piggyback on the successes made in the LGB movement.

The TQ’s co-opting of the LGB movement has meant that our organizations now focus exclusively on TQ issues. But then, this is where the financial benefits are. This is an extremely well-funded movement: money for politicians, organizations etc. (See The 11th Hour Blog, for example). This teaming has also meant that LGB rights have, like women’s rights, regressed.

“Gender identity” is also significantly detrimental to children and youth. Vulnerable children, often gender non-conforming, gay or lesbian, are being led to believe that they are really “transgender,” and that they can change sex. This is a lie being imposed on them by schools, medical practices, the news media, social media, and Democratic politicians. While parents are told that if they don’t “affirm” their children, they may take their lives.

The evidence does not support this. The causes of “gender dysphoria” are multiple and unexamined. Underlying mental health issues, trauma, and social contagion play a part. Please consider that many countries (UK, Finland, Sweden, Norway, France and Denmark), are re-examining their support of “gender-affirming” care (the use of drugs and surgeries) because evidence is lacking, switching instead to counseling and therapy.

I am a progressive feminist who believes that “gender” (sex stereotyping) harms females. The Democrats’ support of “gender identity” ideology has made a growing number of us politically homeless and despairing of our silencing and loss of rights. I will not vote for any candidate who cannot correctly define what a woman is.

Progressive feminists were the first to raise concerns about the wrongs of “gender identity” ideology, not conservatives, and we continue in the forefront of our growing movement. Many have been silenced by the bullying, canceling, and gaslighting that those who believe in “gender identity” have used to enforce their beliefs into law and policy.

Our freedom of speech has been curtailed. But ultimately we must prevail for the sake of our sisters and our children. “Failure is impossible,” as Susan B. Anthony said.

Karen Bercovici of Leeds is a member of Massachusetts Women For Sex Based Rights.