In a show of solidarity against online abuse, numerous MPs, charities, activists, and feminists have joined forces to condemn the torrent of hate directed towards Mika Minio-Paluello, a trans woman who simply shared her experiences as a mother. The abuse, including death threats, accusations of child abuse, and calls for her arrest, ensued after Minio-Paluello discussed the impact of soaring water bills on her life as a mother during an ITV news segment.
Amidst the hateful campaign, some individuals reported Minio-Paluello to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC), falsely claiming a safeguarding risk due to her open discussion about breastfeeding her baby. The NSPCC promptly investigated and concluded that no such risk existed.
In response to this abhorrent abuse, politicians, charity leaders, academics, artists, and allies rallied together, demonstrating their support for the trans mum. They signed a letter published by the feminist campaigns community Level Up, which called for solidarity and highlighted the importance of love, care, and adequate support for mothers in raising their children. The signatories encompassed a range of influential figures, including Labour MPs Nadia Whittome, Apsana Begum, Zarah Sultana, and Baroness Shami Chakrabarti. Additionally, the Green Party of England and Wales, Act Up London, senior figures at Greenpeace UK, British journalist Ash Sarkar, singer-songwriter Billy Bragg, and trans writer and dad Freddy McConnell, were among those advocating for unity with Minio-Paluello.
The letter emphasized that motherhood and family can take various forms, influenced by individual circumstances, and that the title of “mother” is a unifying factor that transcends differences. It embraced all mothers, regardless of whether they parent alone or with a partner, whether they gave birth, adopted, or fostered, and whether they bottle-fed or breastfed. It recognized that queer, straight, cis, and trans individuals all embody motherhood. The letter firmly condemned the attacks on trans parents and queer families, while highlighting the broader fight for reproductive justice, which encompasses the human right to maintain personal bodily autonomy, make choices about having or not having children, and raise them in safe and sustainable communities.
Notably, Labour MP Rosie Duffield drew criticism for making anti-trans remarks about Mika Minio-Paluello following the ITV segment. Duffield, known for her ‘gender critical’ views, went as far as denying Minio-Paluello’s status as a mother, arguing that trans women cannot carry or give birth to a baby. LGBT+ Labour and other Labour groups have called for disciplinary action against Duffield due to her persistent anti-trans behavior over the years, including referring to trans women as “male-bodied biological men” and associating with Tory MP Miriam Cates in an anti-trans alliance. Duffield, however, maintains that she supports the LGBTQ+ community despite these controversies.
Residents in Duffield’s constituency voiced their concerns about the MP’s discriminatory remarks, calling them frequent and gratuitous. They urged her to prioritize representing and supporting all constituents instead of attacking the trans community. This collective response from MPs, activists, and allies sends a strong message against online abuse and highlights the importance of standing together in the face of hate, especially when it targets marginalized communities.