"Labour Party's understanding towards the transgender community shows no improvement"
In a recent display of solidarity, UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy wore a black t-shirt bearing the slogan "Protect the Dolls" at Wigan Pride on August 18, 2025. The slogan, which has been popularised by trans-activist celebrities like Pedro Pascal, Tilda Swinton, Alan Cumming, and Madonna, is intended to express emotional support and a call to protect transgender women, who face significant violence and discrimination.
However, the slogan has become a subject of controversy due to perceived exclusion, political tensions, and debates over representation and safety within and outside of the trans community. Critics argue that the term "dolls" excludes other transgender and non-binary people, especially those who do not "pass" as cisgender, creating divisions within the trans community.
Some see the phrase as implying that trans women require protection as if women assigned female at birth do not, fuelling debates about the hierarchy of vulnerability and identity politics. The slogan has also been accused of being transphobic or exclusionary by some who argue it dehumanizes women or suggests that only trans women assigned male at birth need protection.
These criticisms have led to a broader criticism from some activists and commentators about the mainstream "allyship" around slogans like "Protect the Dolls" being performative or selective, focusing on certain groups of trans people while ignoring others or broader issues of violence and solidarity.
The history of "Protect the Dolls" is rooted in queer ballroom culture as a term of pride and protection for transgender women. In this context, "the dolls" specifically metaphor transgender women, who are among the most vulnerable within the LGBTQ+ community.
Despite the controversy, Jess Phillips, the Women's Safeguarding Minister, has expressed her support for trans women, stating that she would be happy to refer to transwomen as women. However, Prime Minister Keir Starmer's stance on trans issues has been inconsistent, with multiple changes in his position on whether men can be women.
The slogan's association with luxury fashion, with the 'Protect the Dolls' t-shirt costing £75, has also been a point of contention, with some arguing that it is out of reach for many within the trans community.
As the debate continues, it is clear that the slogan "Protect the Dolls" has sparked important conversations about representation, inclusivity, and the need for solidarity within the trans community and beyond.
References:
- The Guardian
- BBC News
- The Independent
- The New York Times
- The Atlantic
