The Amnesty Letter

Denies "legitimate representation" to people of conscience

The Letter Signed and Promoted Amnesty International

The letter was issued by Transgender Equality Network Ireland and signed and promoted by Amnesty International. It states "We call on media, and politicians to no longer provide legitimate representation for those that share bigoted beliefs, that are aligned with far right ideologies and seek nothing but harm and division.[i] (all quotes are contextualized in endnotes)

The letter appears to identify individuals and organisations who “defend biology”[ii]  and present "false narratives"[iii]and "inaccurate science"[iv] (i.e. implication is that dimorphic sex is inaccurate science) as people who "promote hate, to trade in bigotry"[v] and “call for division based on falsities and bigotry”[vi].  Their views are “not based in truth, it comes with no claims in fact, and is a dog whistle to bigots”[vii] and furthermore these views are promulgated by outsiders, people not native to Ireland.

In particular the letter states that in addition to gender being a spectrum that sex is also a spectrum.  Many of us are very comfortable with an understanding of gender as a spectrum, though that view does not go unchallenged.  None the less I believe it is uncontroversial to say that biology defines sex as dimorphic in mammals (male or female including a tiny percentage of males and females who are born with variations in the expression of their sex characteristics)[viii].

No matter ones beliefs or interpretation of the science it is highly unusual to link the definition of sex as dimorphic rather than on a spectrum to far right ideology.

Although much of the letter is couched in vague albeit forceful language, when the logic is followed through, the letter develops an arc that defending biology (i.e dimorphic sex) is hateful not merely offensive.  That in fact such a view is so heinous that people who hold that view should be denied "legitimate representation" by politicians and the media and a "call for an end in giving airtime to their despicable brand of harassment"[ix] is warranted.  

---

Endnotes:

[i] “We call on media, and politicians to no longer provide legitimate representation for those that share bigoted beliefs, that are aligned with far right ideologies and seek nothing but harm and division.”  (para 3) 

[ii] “Let us say unequivocally that the statements of newly launched organisations that seek to defend biology or fight gender identity and expression do not represent the wider LGBTI+ community nor feminists in Ireland.” (para 2) 

[iii] “We know that by and large these false narratives are not native to the queer and feminist communities of Ireland. These ideas are representative of outsiders that have not worked, laboured, or known the trans community in Ireland.” (para 7)

 [iv] “Anyone that continues to use inaccurate science to denigrate trans people is increasing discrimination. Sex and gender are both spectrums, and the full beauty of that spectrum must be supported and included” (para 6)

 [v] “We will not allow anyone to promote hate, to trade in bigotry, or to attack legislation, education and programs that affirm transgender, nonbinary, and intersex people.” (para 7) 

[vi] For our decades of solidarity, some seek to repay our community with a call for division based on falsities and bigotry. (para 1)

 [vii] “It is not based in truth, it comes with no claims in fact, and is a dog whistle to bigots.” (para 7) 

[viii] Intersex Awareness fact sheet from UN Free & Equal (https://www.unfe.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/UNFE-Intersex.pdf) accessed 27 November 2020 

[ix] “we repudiate their beliefs, and call for an end in giving airtime to their despicable brand of harassment” (para 2) 

The Letter Signed by Amnesty International