Hear Me Roar 2025

Transcript of my speech at Hear Me Roar 2025 for International Women's Day - 7th March 2025

Good afternoon everyone, 

It's exciting to be here. I'm told I have five minutes which is shame because I could easily do... 6. Today, we gather to recognise the strength, resilience, and contributions of women all over the world. And as a proud trans woman, I am here to say: this day belongs to all of us. And I’d like to talk a little bit about that. 

Women’s rights are human rights. They are not conditional or reserved for those who fit a narrow definition of womanhood. They do not depend on race, class, ability, neurodiversity, sexuality, or gender identity. True feminism must be rooted in inclusivity and intersectionality.

Womanhood is not a monolith. The experiences of a disabled woman, a Black or brown woman, an Indigenous woman, a migrant woman, a queer woman, or a trans woman are not the same, but they are interconnected. When we acknowledge and uplift diverse voices, we build a feminism that is powerful and unshakable.

As a trans woman, I have seen both the beauty and the struggle of being part of this sisterhood. I have felt the warmth of acceptance, and I have felt the sting of exclusion. Too often, trans women, especially trans women of colour, face discrimination, violence, and erasure, even within spaces that claim to stand for gender equality. This is why we must commit to radical inclusivity. Because feminism that does not include all women is not feminism at all. 

Women have always had to fight, to be heard, to be seen, to be valued.

And trans women are no exception. We know what it means to fight for womanhood. 

So while I have this microphone, let me say this loud and clear: Trans women are women. That is not up for debate. That is not a question. That is a fact. 

And yet, we live in a world where transphobia is profitable. Media outlets manufacture moral panic over trans people just to boost engagement. Politicians, desperate for relevance, push policies designed to strip us of our rights, our dignity, and in some cases, our very existence. Right now, in the UK, trans rights are under siege. Hate crimes have risen over 56% in the past year. Gender-affirming healthcare is being restricted. The government is playing games with our legal recognition. 

But the worst part? Some of these attacks are coming from inside the house. 

There are people who fight for women, but spend more time campaigning against trans rights than they do the actual systems that oppress all of us. 

Meanwhile, the real threats to women: patriarchy, sexual violence, pay gaps, healthcare discrimination, systemic racism go unchecked while they waste their energy trying to build walls instead of bridges. I'll keep saying it true feminism does not exclude. True feminism is radical, intersectional, and unapologetically inclusive. 

Because let’s be honest: misogyny doesn’t just come in one flavour. 

We must challenge the systems that oppress all marginalised women. The fight for reproductive justice, equal pay, safety from gender-based violence, access to healthcare, and the right to exist authentically. These are battles we all share. 

And some of us bear heavier burdens than others. Black, Brown, and Indigenous women face higher rates of maternal mortality. Disabled and neurodivergent women encounter additional barriers to employment, healthcare, and diagnoses for conditions that affect them. Trans women are disproportionately at risk of homelessness, unemployment, and violence. 

I ask you: What kind of world do we want to build? A world where womanhood is policed and gatekept? Or a world where every woman, in all her complexity, is seen, heard, and valued? 

I choose the latter. And I invite you to choose it with me. To build bridges. Let us listen more, judge less, and commit to unlearning the biases that divide us. 

We must also look at how our own actions can either uphold or dismantle oppression. How do we show up for one another? How do we create spaces where all women feel safe and included? 

It starts with listening to those who are too often silenced. It starts with checking our own biases and using our voices to uplift rather than exclude. 

Inclusion is not a favour; it is a necessity. Feminism is not just about breaking glass ceilings; it is about ensuring that the floor beneath us is stable enough for everyone to stand on. 

We must recognise the courage it takes to simply exist as a marginalised woman in today’s world. The trans woman who walks into a room, unsure if she will be welcomed. The Black and brown woman who fight for visibility in conversations about racial justice. The disabled and neurodivergent woman who struggles to get a diagnosis, or believed. To every woman who has been told she does not belong - you do. 

So let us today not only celebrate women - let us protect each other. Let us uplift each other. Make space for each other, no matter where we come from or how we identify. 

Thank you.