The European Parliament is Clear: Trans Women are Women

March 4, 2026

The repeated attacks on trans people’s fundamental human rights in the U.S. have been brutal. But trans communities and allies have fought back each time. Tireless activism across the country serves as a source of hope. So, too, does the resilience shown by advocates in other nations. They’ve won important victories.

Recently, on February 12, 2026, the European Parliament passed a groundbreaking resolution, affirming a simple truth: trans women are women. The resolution affirms the dignity of trans women, and it also emphasizes that, as women, they are included in gender-equality and anti-violence policies. It serves a stark contrast to the Trump administration’s position to deny the existence of transgender people (and indeed gender itself), and affirm a definition of physical sex that neglects intersex people as well.

We at the Woodhull Freedom Foundation have taken the time to explain that sex and gender are not the same thing. We firmly believe that trans people deserve to access their human rights, including their right to healthcare. In a time where trans people’s very existence is denied by our federal government, it is heartening to see that other nations are declaring that yes, trans women exist, and yes, they are women who enjoy equality and freedom from violence.