WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Independent Women’s Forum (IWF), Independent Women’s Law Center (IWLC), and Independent Women’s Network (IWN) announced opposition to the Meta Oversight Board’s announcement that it may prohibit posts that recognize trans-identifying males as males. In addition to driving 550 public comments to the Oversight Board, IWF filed two official comments, one signed by IWF President Carrie Lukas, and the other signed by IWF ambassadors Riley Gaines, Paula Scanlan, Amie Ichikawa, and Payton McNabb—all of whom have been directly impacted by men in women’s sports and spaces—urging Meta to continue to allow posts that are critical to women’s advocacy efforts and the flourishing of public debate.
Meta’s Oversight Board is considering removing two videos that currently abide by Meta’s Community Standards: the first of a trans-identifying male in a women’s bathroom, who asserts a right to be there, taken by IWF Ambassador Payton McNabb, and the second of a male winning a women’s athletic competition, upsetting many participants and their parents.
Meta’s Oversight Board is using the two cases to consider “policy recommendations” that could ban and label posts that include women showing a preference for single-sex spaces as “harassment.”
IWF’s comments can be read, in part, below:
Independent Women’s Forum President Carrie Lukas said in IWF’s comment to the Meta Oversight Board:
“IWF supports the robust speech of activists who disagree with us about the reality of biological sex; we believe that when free people are allowed to speak and debate ideas, the truth is more likely to emerge. In the case of restoring and protecting the definitions and guardrails around biological sex, more Americans every day are persuaded by the truths these videos and others like them demonstrate.
“In preemptively short-circuiting the public discussion by removing videos as some are urging the Board to do, Meta would be censoring the view of the majority of people in the United States, and diminishing the ability of all our citizens to fully examine a contentious issue and come to their own conclusions.”
IWF Ambassadors Riley Gaines, Paula Scanlan, Amie Ichikawa, and Payton McNabb in IWF and IWLC’s comment to the Meta Oversight Board said:
“We have more experience than most with trans-identifying males taking opportunities from and, unfortunately, physically harming women, including in prisons. We use the Meta platform to applaud women standing up for their rights and voicing opposition to identity-based access to women’s spaces as it affects them.
“We submit this comment because continued posting in this manner is highly beneficial for society.
“Why? Women deserve single-sex spaces. This is a hard-fought, massively popular right. But no right is guaranteed without continued attention, and today we see women losing this right in the name of gender identity. Posts like the ones under consideration help us galvanize support for single-sex spaces and the opportunity, privacy, safety, and fairness that comes with them.”
IWF drove 550 comments from across the country voicing concern about the Oversight Board’s potential removal of speech favoring single-sex women’s sports and spaces:
“Truthful speech about situations that have happened, even if a different view of those ‘in charge’ of social media, should be allowed. Free speech and discussion of real-life events that impact girls and women should be allowed. Do not censor speech about the safety of girls and women.” – Sancy T.
“There is nothing hateful about stating biological truths or reality. There is nothing hateful about standing up for women and girls. Why are women and girls not entitled to privacy and dignity? Why are they not entitled to feel safe? To prevent women and girls from stating biological truth, facts and advocating for themselves is profoundly anti-women.” – Rebecca W.
“As a shareholder and user of Facebook, I respectfully request that Meta allow truthful, real-life discussions about biological sex along with the uniqueness and progress of women. This is not harassment and Meta’s role should not be to censor speech.” – Cindy S.
“I urge Meta to uphold its current Community Standards that allow discussions about biological sex, especially those highlighting the impact of trans-identifying males in women’s spaces and sports. Erasing these discussions would harm women’s rights, erode truth, and prevent critical public debate about fair competition, safety, and dignity. Censoring sex-based speech doesn’t protect; it silences vital conversations necessary for balancing rights and ensuring informed policies. Meta must resist the push to redefine reality at the expense of women’s voices and safety.” – Anna V.
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