Trans Inclusion Project

The 519 Community Centre
Toronto, ON
416 392 6878 x332

Thursday October 4, 2006

To: Yasmeen Persad and Jake Pyne

My name is deb singh and I am writing this response on behalf of the Toronto Rape Crisis Centre/Multicultural Women Against Rape (TRCC/MWAR).

We applaud and appreciate the efforts of the 519 Trans Inclusion Project for rallying women’s organizations together around this important and sadly still politically charged issue. Sadly, we say, because to us at TRCC/MWAR, it is without a doubt that transwomen are women and are entitled to the same care, support, respect and service-provision as non-trans women. The women in our organization pulled together with many responses around the question “Why are trans women included in your women’s organization?” The following is our collective response.

We view transwomen as women. We believe that gender is a social construction and that sexism and transphobia are linked because of this. Gender is constructed within patriarchal institutions and is not a fixed and universal category based on biology. We support the need to challenge traditional ideas of gender and encourage the idea of thinking of gender as more fluid and self-defined by women.

Our organization provides information and services from a peer-based, survivor-led model. As women experience violence, it is important that women from varying, race, class, ability, religious and gender backgrounds are represented in that, and are supported around their experiences. It is also important that trans women are also doing this work in paid positions. We recognize that trans women rarely get recognized in paid work for their valuable experience and knowledge in the world. It is our commitment to peer-based, survivor-led work that we hire trans women as well as serve them.

As an anti-oppression feminist organization, we view violence in many ways. Violence under this framework is viewed as physical, emotional, mental, etc., as well as coming from racism, sexism, homophobia, ableism, colonization, classism, xenophobia, transphobia and many others. Rejecting transwomen is against our commitment to an anti-oppression framework and is an act of violence in and of itself. Transwomen experience a huge amount of violence in their everyday lives due to transphobia and sexism.

As anti-violence, anti-rape activists, we recognize that women and trans people do not receive sufficient care when violence happens to them. Transwomen remain invisible in our communities because we marginalize them. There are few organizations and shelters that provide space for transwomen that is safe and non-judgmental. It is our obligation as anti-violence activists to provide space for women who experience violence.

In short, the Toronto Rape Crisis Centre/Multicultural Women Against Rape feel that trans women are women and have a right to access our services and support. It would be against our way of being to exclude such a diverse group because they experience privilege or oppression in certain ways in our society. It is with a commitment to anti-oppression and self-growth that we vitally include trans women as women in our organization.

We are currently writing a statement that speaks to the inclusivity of TRANSMEN in our organization. To be posted soon.

deb singh
Staff Collective Member
Toronto Rape Crisis Centre/Multicultural Women Against Rape
416 597 1171 x227
Angelblaze_69@yahoo.com