Thread by @forwardnotback

As I’m on a bit of a rant night tonight
@UKLabour has always been a party that supported women and sex based rights
It always should be
Our values and history screams this
It really isn’t that difficult to understand

There will always be people who want to turn this into a left/right or young/old war - ignore them
History isn’t and won’t be on their side

For me it goes way back and the ‘women’s right to choose’
It is about women having agency
It is about women being equal
Not told what that have to or should accept
Women are at the heart of our movement and always should be
As a man I learned that at an early age

And once you start attacking sex based rights you attack
Equal pay
Maternity rights
Sex discrimination rights
Pension rights (still ongoing)
Maternity rights
It all comes tumbling down

And why ate women underrepresented at all levels in society
It isn’t a choice
It is a historic discrimination against women and their role in society
It isn’t their choice it is all based on their sex
That is all there is to it

None of this translates as being ‘anti trans’
None of this is hate
It is simply recognition that women as a sex based class exist and their rights are important

1968 Women strike at the Ford car factory in Dagenham. Their action directly led to the passing of the Equal Pay Act

1975 The Sex Discrimination Act, pushed through by the women’s movement, makes it illegal to discriminate against women in work, education and training

1977 International Women’s Day is formalised as an annual event by the UN General Assembly.
The first Rape Crisis Centre opens in London

1980 Women are allowed to apply for a loan or credit in their own names. Prior to this a women had to get their father or husband to sign for a loan even if they earned more.

1985 The Equal Pay (Amendment) Act allows women to be paid the same as men for work of equal value

1986 The Sex Discrimination (Amendment) Act enables women to retire at the same age as men. The restriction preventing women from working night shifts in factories is lifted.

1990 Independent taxation for women is introduced. Prior to this, the income of a married woman was added to the income of her husband and taxed accordingly.

1994: After 15 years of campaigning by women’s organisations, rape in marriage is made a crime
26 years ago - imagine that - well a lot of women don’t have to imagine - it was their life
This is why sex matters

So the next time anyone asks why women as a sex based class are important tell them, remind them - these aren’t ancient struggles for rights they are recent history and still go on

And I want you to ask yourself these questions tonight:
If a woman tweeted this thread what would the reaction have been
If as an example a female MP from any party dated to speak this truth what would the reaction be
Then ask yourself why there is a difference