Our Movement Is Stronger Together: Why Solidarity with the Trans Community Matters in Reproductive Freedom Advocacy
Movements succeed when they bring people in, not when they leave people behind.
Over the past several years, attacks on reproductive freedom and attacks on transgender rights have increasingly come from the same playbook. The goal is often the same: limiting bodily autonomy, restricting access to health care, and deciding who deserves the freedom to make decisions about their own lives.
The bottom line is this: supporting transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive people isn’t separate from the fight for reproductive freedom. It is part of it.
A Lesson from the ERA Campaign
During New York’s Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) campaign in 2024, transphobia was impossible to ignore.
We saw it on yard signs, in social media comments, and in public debates. Unfortunately, it didn’t come only from opponents of the ERA.
In some cases, even people and organizations supporting the amendment decentered or minimized details about the importance of protecting the trans community to make the campaign more politically palatable or attract broader support.
That approach asks some of our most vulnerable community members to accept being excluded for the benefit of others. At Planned Parenthood of Central and Western New York, we reject that idea.
We do not strengthen our movement by sacrificing people at its margins. We strengthen it by standing together.
Inclusion Isn’t a Distraction from the Mission
Many people who support reproductive freedom would never describe themselves as transphobic. Yet sometimes we hear arguments that conversations about transgender rights should be set aside until a “better time” or that discussing transgender inclusion makes reproductive rights advocacy harder.
The problem with this mindset is that it positions transgender people as an afterthought rather than as members of our community.
Transgender and nonbinary people access sexual and reproductive health care. They seek abortion care. They need cancer screenings. They need STI testing and treatment. They deserve access to affirming health care just like cis people.
They are not adjacent to this movement. They are very much a part of it.
When we treat transgender inclusion as optional, we send a message that some people’s rights and experiences matter less than others. We need to learn from the social justice movements of the past – the civil rights leaders that excluded women, the feminist leaders that excluded Black people, indigenous people, people of color, and poor people. The way many movements still today exclude people with disabilities. We have got to stop organizing in exclusionary ways and learn from the past.
Building a More Inclusive Movement
Creating welcoming spaces doesn’t require perfection. It requires a willingness to learn.
Many supporters worry about making mistakes or saying the wrong thing. The good news is that most people aren’t looking for perfection – they’re looking for effort, respect, and a genuine commitment to growth.
A few guiding principles can go a long way:
- Lead with curiosity, humility, and compassion.
- Be willing to ask questions thoughtfully and respectfully.
- Balance learning from others with doing your own research.
- Accept feedback when it is offered.
- Keep learning and keep trying.
Growth can be uncomfortable. That’s normal. Advocacy work – good advocacy work, anyway – often challenges us to rethink assumptions we may have never questioned before. Gender impacts our lives heavily. It’s one of the first ways we learn to relate to the world, so challenging old understandings and beliefs is difficult – but it’s important to commit yourself to trying, learning, and growing.
Small Actions Make a Big Difference
Creating inclusive spaces often comes down to everyday habits.
For example:
- Make asking for pronouns a normal part of introductions.
- If you accidentally use the wrong pronoun, correct yourself, apologize, and move forward.
- Avoid asking invasive personal questions about someone’s body, medical history, or transition.
- When you’re unsure about language or best practices, seek guidance from trusted resources.
These actions may seem small, but they help create environments where people feel respected and welcome.
Why Language Matters
Language shapes culture. Inclusive language helps us avoid making assumptions about a person’s identity, body, or experiences based on outdated ideas about gender.
For transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive people – many of whom already face barriers to health care and discrimination – those choices from their allies and community members can have a significant impact.
When we use inclusive language, we send a simple but powerful message:
Everyone belongs here and everyone’s identity is valid.
Practical Ways to Use More Inclusive Language
One of the easiest ways supporters can foster inclusion is by rethinking some common phrases.
Instead of “women seeking abortion care,” consider:
- “People accessing abortion care”
- “Patients seeking abortion care”
These phrases acknowledge that while many abortion patients are women, some are transgender men, nonbinary people, or others who can become pregnant but do not identify as women.
When discussing abortion broadly, language such as “women, transgender, and nonbinary people” can help ensure everyone is being recognized.
Instead of “women’s health,” consider:
- “Sexual and reproductive health”
This language reflects the reality that reproductive and sexual health services are important for people of all genders. Importantly, it also reminds people that sexual health and contraceptive planning is not just a “women’s issue” – even when we’re thinking about heterosexual relationships between cisgender people, cis men should be actively engaged in family planning and seeking sexual health resources.
Instead of “ladies and gentlemen,” consider:
- “Everyone”
- “Folks”
- “Friends”
These greetings are welcoming without assuming anyone’s gender.
Instead of assuming pronouns, consider:
- Asking people what pronouns they use.
- Using stated pronouns consistently.
- Using “they/them” when you’re unsure about someone’s pronouns.
Solidarity Is a Choice
Every social justice movement reaches moments where it must decide whether to narrow its vision or expand it, and history shows that movements are strongest when they refuse to leave people behind.
Supporting transgender people isn’t a side issue. It isn’t a distraction from reproductive freedom. It is part of the broader fight for bodily autonomy, dignity, freedom, and access to health care.
When we advocate for a world where people can make their own decisions about their bodies and futures, that commitment must include everyone.
Our movement is stronger when everyone has a place in it.