Selena Gomez, Bella Hadid, Halle Berry and more stars sign open letter supporting transgender women

A massive lineup of female stars – including Selena Gomez, Halle Berry and Bella Hadid – spoke out in support of transgender women and girls.

The trio of stars were among those who signed an open letter to the transgender community on Wednesday.

The show of support came on the Transgender Day of Visibility, as well as the final day of Women’s History Month.

‘In observance of Women’s History Month and Transgender Day of Visibility, we write this letter as feminist leaders in advocacy, business, entertainment, media, politics, and social justice who stand as, with, and for transgender and nonbinary people. 

‘Trans women and girls have been an integral part of the fight for gender liberation. We uphold that truth and denounce the ongoing anti-transgender rhetoric and efforts we witness in various industries,’ the letter started.

It was published by GLAAD and Black transgender activist and award-winning writer Raquel Willis.  

Brie Larson, Regina King, Janelle Monáe, Patricia Arquette and Laverne Cox were also some of the famous faces who took part in the cause. 

‘We acknowledge with clarity and strength that transgender women are women and that transgender girls are girls. And we believe that honoring the diversity of women’s experiences is a strength, not a detriment to the feminist cause. All of us deserve the same access, freedoms, and opportunities. 

‘We deserve equal access to education, employment, healthcare, housing, recreation, and public accommodations. And we must respect each person’s right to bodily autonomy and self-determination,’ it continued.

 The letter was signed by more than 465 feminist leaders in advocacy, business, entertainment, media, politics and social justice who stand in solidarity with transgender women and girls.

It also called for equal access to education, employment, healthcare, housing, recreation and public accommodations, as well as respect for every person’s right to bodily autonomy and self-determination. 

‘It is time for the long history of assaults (legislative, physical, social, and verbal) against trans women and girls to end. For far too long, lawmakers have worked to strip trans women of their civil liberties—in 2021, once again, we’ve seen a wave of bigoted governmental policies and legislation. 

‘Many of these laws target the rights of girls to play school sports or criminalize doctors for treating trans youth and their families. The women’s movement has seen doctors targeted before for providing us with necessary medical care and services, and we refuse to let youth endure that now. Plus, we know that anti-trans sports bans are as unnecessary as they are harmful—and that women athletes at both the professional and college levels support inclusion,’ it said.

The development came on the heels of Arkansas lawmakers approving a ban on gender-affirming healthcare for trans children on Tuesday, while South Dakota issued an executive order to prohibit trans girls from playing on girls’ sports teams.

Julianne Moore, Megan Rapinoe, Gabrielle Union, Cynthia Erivo, Judith Light, Amy Schumer, Cara Delevingne, America Ferrera, Lena Dunham and Lena Waithe also added their names to the letter.

The piece called out ‘self-identified feminists’ who have perpetuated harmful ideas about trans people, calling their language ‘not feminist at all.’ 

‘True feminists do not wish to limit any woman’s identity or freedom to fully be herself. Allowing transphobic rhetoric to go unchecked also strengthens the legislative efforts of anti-trans politicians—who now cloak their bigotry in language about protecting or supporting women,’ it continued.

The messaging pointed out that 2020 was the ‘deadliest year on record’ for the community and that there is still an ‘ongoing epidemic of murder and violence plaguing Black and Latinx trans women.’   

‘So far, there have been at least nine deaths reported this year,’ it said, as it also gained support from the likes of Alison Brie, Sarah Paulson, Eva Longoria, Uzo Aduba, Natasha Lyonne, Ashley Judd and Wanda Sykes.

The Letter ended by encouraging all women and non-binary people to co-sign in honor of Transgender Day of Visibility and Women’s History Month. 

‘We all must fight against the unnecessary and unethical barriers placed on trans women and girls by lawmakers and those who co-opt the feminist label in the name of division and hatred. Our feminism must be unapologetically expansive so that we can leave the door open for future generations,’ it concluded.

Organizations such as the TIME’S UP Foundation, The Trevor Project and Amy Poeher’s Smart Girls were also included on the list.