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Feminist organisations across Europe launch joint manifesto for transfeminist solidarity

Developed through messaging research, focus group testing, and collaboration with AWID – Association for Women’s Rights in Development, Deutscher Frauenrat, EL*C – The Eurocentralasian Lesbian* Community, ENAR – European Network Against Racism, Heinrich Böll Foundation, and IPPF European Network, it articulates a shared vision for transfeminist solidarity in practice. We wrote it because taking a clear stance in the current political landscape matters and makes a difference.

‘In This Together’ is TGEU’s strategic communications campaign, developed through cross-movement collaboration and grounded in messaging research on how to build common ground across diverse feminist movements.

In This Together: a joint manifesto for transfeminist solidarity

Feminist movements must act as a united front against threats to our fundamental freedoms, fighting together for human rights principles, justice and equality.

Across Europe, women and LGBTI people are facing unprecedented attacks as part of a global backlash that reaches far beyond the region. Exclusionary laws, hostile media campaigns, and restrictions on essential healthcare, education and housing are rapidly escalating. The consequences are devastating.

Misogyny, including transmisogyny, intersects with transphobia, racism and xenophobia in deadly ways. These overlapping systems of oppression are reinforced by racist policies that fortify borders, criminalise migration and justify surveillance of racialised communities. The result is the consolidation of illiberal, right-wing power and the erosion of protections for women and LGBTI people. Gender-based violence remains shockingly high, with one in three women experiencing physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. Trans people are particularly affected: in recent years, 90% of reported murders of trans people were transfeminicides, targeting trans women, transfeminine people, and disproportionately affecting Black and trans women of colour, as well as trans sex workers. 

This systemic violence shows up as economic and societal violence as well. Anti-rights actors and governments continue to restrict abortion access, refuse to recognise diverse families and protect bodily autonomy. Austerity cuts deepen these inequalities, cutting essential public services and shaping who has access to safety nets, healthcare, legal protections, and the time or resources to seek gender-affirming care.

None of this is happening by chance. Anti-rights movements are becoming more organised and strategic in weakening the hard-won freedoms that women and LGBTI people have fought for. They exploit and deepen existing divisions within feminist and queer movements for political gain, framing basic human rights that ensure safety and equality for trans people as incompatible with the same human rights that guarantee women’s safety and equality. This puts our rights at risk and makes it harder for our movements to fight back. 

In the face of this hostile political landscape, solidarity has never been more urgent. We must act together to resist these attacks and defend human rights. 

We call on feminists, in all our diversity, to act together and defend the shared principles that have always driven our collective fight: equality, human rights, and equal protections for everyone.

We, the undersigned organisations and individuals, come together to dismantle patriarchy in all its forms, through the following principles:

We take action for a solidarity-based, transfeminist future

A transfeminist future is shaped by solidarity. It expands rights, care, and justice for all: a future where trans people can live safely and openly is a future where everyone can do the same. 

We stand in opposition to the authoritarian and exclusionary future that anti-gender movements seek to build – one rooted in racism, ‘traditional’ family structures and gender roles that maintain patriarchal control and roll back the rights of women, LGBTI people, and other marginalised communities. We envision a future where everyone can enjoy their freedoms regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, migration status, disability and economic status. 

We firmly believe the rights of trans people are part of the feminist fight

Defending the rights of trans people is a feminist fight and a key part of the broader struggle for reproductive justice, bodily autonomy, equality and human rights. When we fight for the rights of trans people, we also acknowledge how the feminist movement has been strengthened and shaped by the leadership and labour of trans people.  Historically, Black and brown trans women, in particular, have been at the forefront of feminist activism, advocating for housing and healthcare, fighting violence and advancing social justice for everyone. 

We centre intersectionality

Discrimination and oppression impact our lives differently depending on our social positions, while privilege shapes who is protected from harm. An intersectional feminism recognises that capitalism, colonialism, racism, sexism, transphobia, homophobia, lesbophobia, ableism, whorephobia, and classism reinforce one another and must be dismantled together. 

We are interdependent

Our collective liberation is fundamentally and intrinsically interconnected because human rights don’t discriminate; they are universal and indivisible. We understand that to achieve this, we need to come together. Fighting for equality is not about choosing one group’s rights over another. It is about holding governments accountable for providing effective responses to pressing issues such as ending gender-based violence, ensuring access to comprehensive healthcare, freedom of movement, and securing stable, affordable housing so that everyone can live freely without fear and leave situations that limit their rights.

We unite across differences

We cannot afford to be divided and enable anti-rights movements’ efforts. We have a collective responsibility to act when anyone’s rights are under attack and to speak out for and with trans, racialised, undocumented and disabled people. Across our differences, we commit to dialogue, mutual respect, and working together to build stronger, united movements. We take active steps to stop anti-rights movements in their tracks with much-needed cross-movement conversations and spaces for knowledge and experience exchange. 

We choose solidarity over neutrality

Solidarity requires commitment to action. Silence in the face of injustice reinforces harmful norms, isolates those being targeted, and signals to bystanders that violence and discriminatory behaviour are acceptable.  

We build a transfeminist solidarity that will stand the test of time with concrete actions in our organisations, communities, and daily lives. That’s why we commit to: 

  • Advancing an intersectional, anti-racist and anti-oppressive feminism, recognising that liberation for women must include trans and racialised women, migrants, and sex workers. 
  • Showing cross-movement support by defending the rights of marginalised groups under attack, across feminist, migrant-led, anti-racist, decolonial, disability, labour and sex worker movements, and civil society organisations. 
  • Demanding that governments and funders resource and sustain grassroots human rights organisations, especially those led by trans people and Black and Brown people, whose frontline work is essential yet chronically underfunded.
  • Defending each other against debates and policies that misuse ‘protections’ to target and stigmatise trans people.
  • Call for the right of every person to bodily autonomy, integrity, agency and the right to identity protected by law without exception.
  • Creating inclusive, welcoming, respectful and representative feminist spaces within our groups. 
  • Amplifying trans, racialised, and disabled feminist voices in leadership and decision-making,  ensuring contributions to shaping agendas, priorities, and political strategies.

We act in solidarity with all trans and non-binary people to build a world where human rights, social justice, and equality are a reality for everyone. This is our shared vision: a future where no one is left behind. Feminism wins when we choose transfeminist solidarity.

Signatories of the manifesto

  1. 6Rang (Iranian LGBT+ Network)
  2. AIDS Action Europe
  3. Alliance for Choice
  4. Amnesty International Finnish Section
  5. ANSSYD
  6. Arika
  7. Association Lilith
  8. Association Spectra
  9. AWID – Association for Women’s Rights in Development
  10. Brașov
  11. Brave Dimension Global
  12. Budapest Pride
  13. Bundesverband Trans* (BVT*)
  14. CCEPT Romania
  15. CEL Kosova
  16. Center for Reproductive Rights
  17. Centro de Apoyo a las Identidades Trans A. C.
  18. Chic Art Initiative Uganda
  19. Community And Family Aid Foundation – Ghana
  20. Deutscher Frauenrat
  21. Diverse Voices and Action (DIVA) for Equality, Fiji
  22. EAD
  23. ELC – The Eurocentralasian Lesbian Community
  24. ENAR – European Network Against Racism
  25. EUFORIA. Familias Trans-Aliadas
  26. Eurasian Key Populations Coalition
  27. European AIDS Treatment Group
  28. European Sex Workers’ Rights Alliance
  29. European Union of Women Marina Alta
  30. Federation of Finnish Midwives – Suomen Kätilöliitto – Finlands Barnmorskeförening ry
  31. Feminist Diplomacy Lab
  32. Filipino Trans Europe
  33. Finnish Polyamory and non-monogamy association
  34. Finnish Women’s Association Unioni (Naisasialiitto Unioni ry)
  35. FLINTA*stisch
  36. Fondazione LILA Milano
  37. Freie Arbeitsgemeinschaft Transgesundheit
  38. Fundacja Lambda Polska
  39. Garance
  40. GATE – Global Action for Trans Equality
  41. Gender Plus
  42. Genres Pluriels
  43. Greek Transgender Support Association (GTSA)
  44. Hamina Pride ry
  45. Háttér Society
  46. Heinrich Böll Foundation, Global Unit for Feminism and Gender Democracy
  47. HIV Stigmafighter
  48. Holding the Line
  49. Hungarian LGBT Alliance
  50. Identity.Education
  51. ILGA Europe
  52. ILGA Portugal
  53. Individual
  54. Initiative for Inclusive Feminism
  55. Intersex Greece
  56. Intersex Ireland
  57. IPPF European Network
  58. Irish Trans Archive
  59. Japan Rainbow Cultural Club
  60. Just.Equal Australia Inc
  61. KUR’AJO Press
  62. Labrisz Lesbian Association
  63. Lahden Seta ry
  64. Latvijas Transpersonu apvienība “Transformācija”
  65. LesbenRing e.V.
  66. Lesbian Organisation Rijeka – LORI
  67. LGBTQ+ Psychology Section of Hungarian Psychological Association
  68. LIGHT*
  69. LILA Cagliari
  70. Malta LGBTIQ Rights Movement
  71. Mammies for Trans Rights
  72. Matilde Cuadro Comunicación
  73. Migrant Tales
  74. Naistenkartano ry       
  75. National Pensioner Convention LGBTQI+ Working Group
  76. National Trans Coalition Human Rights NGO
  77. NGO Oma Tuba
  78. Not In Our Name (NION) Women
  79. Observatorio Privado de Evaluación de las Políticas Públicas LGTBI de Aragón
  80. Ökofem
  81. Pacific Sexual and Gender Diversity Network
  82. Petricor Aventuras
  83. Platform Layalat – Global Network of Sex Work Projects
  84. POGI – Patient organizations for gender incongruence
  85. Principle 17
  86. Prisme
  87. Prizma Közösség
  88. Queer Association – Temida
  89. Queer Cyprus Association
  90. Queer Iscte
  91. Rainbow Pride Foundation
  92. Rainbow Rose
  93. Rainbow Seniors
  94. Rainbows Pakistan
  95. Revibra Europe
  96. Right Side Human Rights Defender NGO
  97. SekswerkExpertise
  98. Semia Feminist Fund
  99. Seta LGBTIQ+ Rights Finland
  100. Sheffield Trans Liberation
  101. Sisällöntuottaja
  102. SKP – Punainen Sateenkaari
  103. Sky Soul Initiative
  104. Social Policy, Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Studies Association
  105. SPoD (Social Policy, Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Association)
  106. Suomen kommunistinen puolue, Communist Party of Finland
  107. T*REVERS
  108. TEST TEST e.V.
  109. TGEU – Trans Europe and Central Asia
  110. Th.eros Transfeminist Lab
  111. The National Council of Women of Finland (Naisjärjestöjen Keskusliitto)
  112. Thunderdog Tattoo
  113. Ti Suka asbl
  114. Tonga Leitis Association
  115. Trans Autonomija
  116. Trans Network Balkan
  117. Trans ry / Trans Association Finland
  118. Trans Youth Initiative – Uganda
  119. Trans+ History Week
  120. Trans+ Solidarity Alliance [UK]
  121. TransAkcija
  122. Transchor Plänterwald 2022 e.V.
  123. TransCore
  124. Transfeminiinit – Transfeminina
  125. Transgender Infopunt
  126. Transgenders for Social Justice
  127. TransInterQueer e. V.
  128. TransMission PR
  129. transpals
  130. TransX, Transgender-Association
  131. Trasek ry
  132. Turun seudun Seta ry
  133. Under the Ropes
  134. Unie van Soroptimistclubs in het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden en Suriname
  135. Vasemmistoliitto
  136. WECF – Women Engage for a Common Future
  137. WEmpower – Women Empower and Mentor All
  138. WO=MEN Dutch Gender Platform
  139. Women for Independence | Independence for Women
  140. Zagreb Pride
  141. Zavod Moja mavrica
  142. Инициативная группа “МырзАйым”

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